Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has decided to reopen the Lingaraj temple here on December 27.
Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner Prem Chandra Chaudhary announced this at a press meet on Tuesday.
Chaudhary informed that only sevayats and their family members will be allowed entry to the temple from December 27 to 31.
The temple will remain closed on January 1 and 2 to avoid large congregation of devotees for New Year, he added.
It has also been decided that the denizens of Bhubaneswar will be allowed to pay obeisance at the shrine from January 3 to 5 while those from outside the city will be allowed entry from January 6.
To ensure proper implementation of COVID-19 guidelines, a maximum of 500 devotees will be allowed to remain on the temple premises, Chaudhary pointed out.
The BMC Commissioner also maintained that devotees will be allowed to enter the temple only after submitting a COVID-19 negative report of a test that must be conducted 4-5 days before.
To facilitate the devotees to undergo the COVID-19 test, a screening camp will be set up near the temple which will remain open from 7 am to 10 pm, he added.
