Puri: As a precautionary measure against COVID-19 ahead of Rath Yatra, the servitors of Jagannath Temple in Puri will be given a prophylactic medicine of homeopathy to improve immunity.
According to sources, the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has written to Regional Research Institute (homoeopathy) to organise a health camp for the purpose at Niladri Bhakta Niwas from June 9 to 13.
The servitors of Daitapati Nijog, Pratihari Nijog, Suar Mahasuar Nijog Pujapanda Nijog and Garabadu Nijog and their families have been asked to attend the medical camp on different dates.
“We will give the homoeopathic immune booster medicine to servitors and their families. The ministry of AYUSH earlier recommended all states about its use. Our state health and family welfare department also endorsed it and decided to use the medicine,” SJTA administrator (development) A K Jena told TOI.
They will be asked to take a dose of Arsenicum album 30 (the homeopathy medicine) in empty stomach for three days and repeat it after a month if the infection continues to prevail in the community, he added.
While 14 Daitapatis will get the medicines on Tuesday (June 9), it will be the turn of 345 Pratiharis the following day. On June 11, 60 Suara Mahasuar sevayats will attend the health camp, the sources added.
During the Snana Purnima on June 5, around 8500 temple priests had participated in the rituals and all of them had undergone COVID-19 test to rule out any chances of spreading the infection.