Puri Jagannath Temple Sanitised; New Guidelines Effective From Tomorrow

Puri: A massive disinfection drive was carried out on the Jagannath Temple premises and its periphery here on Sunday.

Fire Services personnel and Puri Municipality staff sanitised the temple complex, barricades, shoe stands and mobile stands near Lion’s Gate.

Meanwhile, the new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) issued by Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) will come into force from Monday.

As per the SOP, people coming from outside Puri will have to carry a RT-PCR negative report for entry into the temple. The report should have been generated within 96 hours prior to their entry to the temple.

However, those who have completed their vaccination process of two shots can produce the certificate. The locals have been exempted from this norm.

Devotees should sanitise their hands before entering and maintain social distance besides wearing masks all the time. Those flouting the norms will be fined, stated an order issued by SJTA a day back. 

Lighting of diyas inside the temple too has been prohibited and devotees will be allowed to partake Mahaprasad inside Anand Bazaar and at designated places on temple premises.

On Saturday, the night curfew came into force as per the new guidelines issued by SJTA. The entry of devotees inside the temple premises was stopped from 8 pm and those inside were given 30 minutes time to exit, stated the Collector Samarth Verma.