Visitors to Puri’s Jagannath Temple need to show Covid-19 negative report to enter

On Thursday, 10 members of the servitor families, five temple employees and 10 staff of the Sri Jagannath Temple shoe stand were found infected with Covid-19.

Published on: Apr 17, 2021, 02:54:18 IST

By Debabrata Mohanty

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With Covid-19 cases rapidly increasing, the Jagannath Temple administration on Friday said devotees from outside Odisha will have to produce RT-PCR negative reports or final vaccination certificates (after two doses of vaccination) for entry into the shrine.

The Jagannath Temple will remain closed for Public Darshan on all Saturdays and Sundays as a measure to contain the spread of the Coronavirus disease and in order to sanitize the premises. (HT PHOTO.)

SJTA chief administrator Dr Krishan Kumar who chaired the meeting said that there is a need to bring in more restrictions in view of the rapid spread of Covid-19 across India in the last few days.

“The temple will remain closed for Public Darshan on all Saturdays and Sundays as a measure to contain the spread of the Coronavirus disease and in order to sanitize the premises. Darshan of the Lords by the public/devotee will be allowed only from Bahara Katha of the temple. Devotees have to sanitize their hands before entering the temple and there would be strict enforcement for ensuring Covid-appropriate behaviour,” he said after the meeting that was attended by Puri district collector, SP and officials of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration and senior servitors of the temple.

All devotees will be required to bring their photo ID card, namely, Aadhaar/Voter 1D or any other photo ID card for identification. Chewing of Tobacco/ Paan and spitting inside the temple premises have been prohibited. A fine of ₹500 will be levied for each violation.

On Thursday, 10 members of the servitor families, five temple employees and 10 staff of the Sri Jagannath Temple shoe stand were found infected with Covid-19.

Temple officials said the servitors who had visited Kumbh Mela in Haridwar will have to undergo Covid-19 tests.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debabrata Mohanty
Debabrata Mohanty is a senior assistant editor of Hindustan Times who works as state correspondent from Odisha covering the state's politics, governance, public policy, natural disasters, environment and its society for close to three decades. With his long years of reporting from the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Mohanty has been known as one of the most experienced and credible journalists covering Odisha for the national English dailies. His reporting combines on-ground detail with deep institutional knowledge detailing the state's changing politics, governance issues, administrative reforms and the functioning of its public institutions. He has regularly reported on issues ranging from legislative developments and public policy implementation. Politics is his core areas of expertise as he closely tracks Odisha's political landscape, including the rise and transformation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two principal political parties in Odisha. His long association with the state's political establishment enables him to write on contemporary developments in a larger political context. Mohanty takes a deep interest in writing human interest stories, environmental issues and documenting the impact of cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events in one of the most disaster-prone states. His coverage extends to public health, governance reforms and stories on accountability of government institutions. Before joining Hindustan Times, Mohanty worked with The Indian Express, Mail Today, and The Telegraph, where he covered at least six general elections and as many assembly elections. In 2007, he was selected for the prestigious Chevening Young Indian Print Journalist Programme at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, where he received advanced training in print journalism. In 2009 he won the Press Institute of India-International Committee of Red Cross award on conflict reporting for his on-ground reportage of 2008 Kandhamal riots.Read More

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