Odisha Govt Starts Process For Reopening Of Major Temples

Bhubaneswar: Following demands from sevyats and various organizations, the Odisha government has begun the process for the reopening of major temples.

In a tweet on Thursday, Chief Secretary Asit Kumar Tripathy directed the chief administrator of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) and other major temples under endowment to prepare an action plan for devotees to visit shrines with strict adherence to COVID-19 guidelines.

The chief secretary also directed the district collectors to consult all stakeholders on this matter and submit a report in 10 days.

Notably, the sevayats of major temples in Odisha had requested the government to allow reopening of the shrines. They pleaded that they ran their families with the money donated by devotees and the closure of the temples due to the COVID-19 pandemic has put their livelihoods at stake.

Challenging the Odisha government’s decision to not reopen religious institutions, including the Jagannath temple in Puri, under its unlock guidelines, Cuttack-based advocate Jayanta Bal had filed a PIL in the High Court.

Apart from this, sevayats under the aegis of the Odisha Mandir Sevayat Sangh had also requested the Chief Minister for his urgent intervention to redress their grievances.

Also Read: PIL In High Court Seeks Reopening Of Religious Institutions In Odisha

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