Jagannath Temple In Puri Allowed To Open From Today, But Final Decision Rests On Odisha Govt

Bhubaneswar: The Union government has approved the opening of 820 Archeological Survey of India-protected monuments with places of worship from Monday, June 8.

Among them are 46 monuments of Odisha, including the Jagannath temple in Puri and Lingaraj temple in Bhubaneswar.

But it remains to be seen whether the state government allows reopening of the sacred and popular places of worship so early.

Chief administrator of the shrine Krishan Kumar Jagannath Temple had said in Puri five days ago that the Jagannath temple will remain out of bounds for devotees till July 5, when the annual Rath Yatra festival will conclude with Niladri Bije.

The ministry of culture has decided to open only those monuments among 3,000-plus ASI-maintained sites where religious events take place.

“Today, the culture ministry has approved the opening of 820 of its living monuments under the ASI from June 8. All protocols issued by the MHA and the health ministry will be followed,” Union minister Prahlad Patel said.

The maximum number of monuments to be opened are in Vadodara (77), followed by Chennai (75), Dharwad (73) and Bengaluru (69).

Statewise, 111 monuments will open in Uttar Pradesh, followed by Maharashtra (65), Madhya Pradesh (60) and Odisha (46).

Archaeological sites maintained by the ASI were shut from March 17 in view of the nationwide lockdown necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic.