Bhubaneswar: The ‘Mahadeepa’ is scheduled to be lifted atop the Dadhinauti (crown) of Lingaraj Temple on Maha Shivratri at 10 pm on Tuesday, the temple committee informed.
The rituals by the servitors will be conducted at the 11th-century shrine by observing COVID appropriate behaviour like wearing of mask and social distancing.
The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation, in its guidelines issued on Friday, has barred devotees from having darshan of the Lord at the sanctum sanctorum on the Shivratri. They can have darshan of Lord Lingaraj at Aada Katha but cannot perform puja there.
At the coordination meeting, the servitors belonging to the Brahman Nijog and Pujapanda Nijog had, however, demanded that the devotees should be allowed to light lamps and offer puja on the temple premises.
The BMC has also stressed maintaining social distance at all times and wearing masks at all times. The temple authorities have been directed to ensure the provision of handwashing/hand sanitiser for the devotees.
Spitting inside and outside the temple premises and chewing of pan/ gutkha are strictly prohibited.
While people with SARI/ ILI like symptoms will not be allowed to enter the temple, persons with co-morbidities, elderly persons, pregnant women and children below 12 years of age have been advised to avoid the event.
There is also a ban on any kind of congregation by temporary vendors outside the temple premises as these can lead to large gatherings, it added.
