Puri: The Jagannath Temple in Puri will be closed for a few hours on February 19 in view of President Ram Nath Kovind’s visit.
The temple will be closed for the general public from 4 pm to 6 pm on February 19, the Shri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) said on Monday. The President will visit the temple from 5 pm to 5.45 pm on February 19.
The President will be received by Gajapati Maharaj Dibyasingh Deb, Chhatisha Nijog chief Janardan Pattajoshimahapatra and SJTA chief administrator Krishan Kumar at the temple gate and escorted inside amid tight security.
Around 40 platoons of police will be deployed during Kovind’s visit. The President will be on a two-day visit to Puri starting February 19.
As per the itinerary released by the President’s Office, Kovind will arrive in Puri in a helicopter at 3.25 pm on February 19. From the helipad, he will go to his hotel. He will go to the Jagannath Temple for darshan of the deities at 5 pm.
On February 20, the President is scheduled to visit the Shri Chaitanya Gaudiya Mutt on Grand Road and attend a function there.
COVID restrictions eased
COVID restrictions at the Jagannath Temple were further eased on Monday. Now, devotees no longer have to carry proof of full vaccination to enter the 12th-century shrine.
The SJTA told the media that devotees are not required to carry the double-dose vaccination certificate from February 21. RT-PCR certificate is also not mandatory to enter the temple.
