Jagannath Temple Will Open From Today After Nine Months

Jagannath temple will open from today, only people of Puri are allowed inside in the first phase.

The doors of the famous Jagannath temple in Puri city of Odisha have been opened to devotees since Wednesday, after nine months the administration had closed all places of worship due to Coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

Now it is open again after a long time. However, the temple will reopen in an ordered way.

The decision was taken after Chattisa Nijog, the apex body of priests of the Jagannath temple, sent a proposal to the state government recommending the reopening of the 12th-century temple.

The Chief Administrator of Sri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), Dr. Krishna Kumar said that devotees of Puri would be allowed in the first phase for five days, after which people from the rest of the state would be able to visit the temple.

Dr. Krishna Kumar said, ‘For all the devotees, the temple is expected to be open from 3 January.

The Covid-19 negative report will be mandatory for entry into the temple from January 3 and should be an identity card for the temple servants and SJTA employees. ‘

From January 3, a maximum of 5,000 devotees will be allowed to visit. The temple will remain closed on January 1 and 2, in view of the possibility of crowds of devotees on the new year in the city of Tirtha.

Earlier this month, the concerned State Commission recommended the reopening of Odisha temples, strictly following the Covid-19 protocol.

With the reopening of the Jagannath temple, it is expected that next month, the rest of the temples across the state can also be opened.

There are currently 700 temples in Bhubaneshwar, around which the city’s religious life revolves. The state capital is a major destination not only for tourists but also for pilgrims.

Sri Lingaraja Temple, Anant Vasudev Temple, Mukteshwar Temple, Brahmeshwar Temple, Rajarani Temple are some of the famous religious places for Hindus in the state capital.