Bhubaneswar: The annual Rukuna Rath Yatra of Lord Lingaraj in Odisha capital will be celebrated with strict observance of COVID-19 protocols.
The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), on Friday, issued guidelines for conduct of Ashokastami and the Rath Yatra of Lord Lingaraj scheduled to be celebrated on April 20.
The high-level meeting was attending by stakeholders of Lingaraj temple and BMC officials.
As per the decision only sevayats of the temple will be allowed to conduct Rukuna Rath Yatra and bahuda yatra. Devotees will not be allowed to participate in the car festival as well as return car festival.
The sevayats must undergo RT-PCR test 48 hours before the car festival and return car festival and only those testing negative for COVID-19 can participate in the festival, stated the BMC order.
The temple authorities shall coordinate with BMC for sanitisation of the Rath before use.
The other guidelines include:
Temple authorities shall conduct thermal screening of sevayats daily and make provision for hand sanitisation.
Food vendors/Meena bazaars/cultural functions and other kinds of activities are strictly prohibited
Burning of fire crackers at any time of the festival strictly prohibited.
Spitting and chewing of paan or gutkha too prohibited.
Sevayats with SARI/ILI like symptoms shall not be allowed to participate
The BMC said any deviation of the guidelines will entail individual action as well as revoking this permission.
Also Read: Rukuna Rath Yatra Of Lord Lingaraj To Be Held In Odisha Capital Sans Devotees!
