COVID-19 negative report not required to enter Puri's Jagannath temple from 21 January, says management

Bhubaneswar: The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) on Sunday announced that devotees need not produce their COVID-19 negative report for getting entry into the 12th century shrine in Puri from 21 January. The decision in this regard was taken at a meeting attended by SJTA chief Krishan Kumar, Puri district magistrate-cum collector Samarth Verma and Superintendent of Police KB Singh. “The devotees can enter into the temple without having COVID-19 negative report from 21 January. The decision will remain in force till 21 February,” the SJTA chief told reporters. Kumar said the SJTA has decided to relax the restriction which was imposed on temple entry for the general public. The temple opened for public from 3 January after remaining closed for nine months in the wake of the pandemic. The Puri Collector said that special arrangements and queue system will soon be introduced for elderly/senior citizens coming to the temple. The temple was opened in a phased manner from 23 December, 2020. While the servitors and their family members were allowed to enter the temple from 23 to 25 December evening, the local residents of Puri got opportunity to have darshan of the deities between 26 and 31 December. The temple was finally opened to the public for darshan of the deities — Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath — from 3 January, 2021 adhering to the COVID-19 guidelines.