SJTA Issues Guidelines for Devotees at Srimandir: Details Here

Puri: The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has come up with standard operating procedure (SOP) for the devotees for darshan of deities at Srimandir, which has been reopened today after nine months.

Here are the details:

Schedule for reopening of Shree Jagannath Temple:
1. The temple will be opened gradually for entry of public from 23.12.2020 onwards,
2. From 23.12.2020 to 25.12.2020, the family members of the Sevaks will be allowed darshan of the Lords
3. From 26.12.2020 to 5PM on 31.12.2020, the residents of Puri Municipality area will be allowed entry for darshan of the Lords
4. The Temple wil remain closed for public darshan on 01.01.2021 and 02.01.2021 to avoid any spike in transmission of COVID-19 as huge gathering is expected on account of New Years’ Day
5. From 03.01.2021, all will be allovwed entry for darshan of the lords.

General guidelines on account of COVID-19 for all devotees

1. It is mandatory for all pilgrims to wear masks at all times, inside and outside the temple
2. Devotees should sanitize their hands before entering into the temple
3. Devotees should maintain physical distance at all times as per COVID guidelines.
4. Devotees are requested not to touch Statues or idols inside the temple
5 It is prohibited to take flowers / Bhoga / Deepa inside the temple. There will be big containers placed at the entrance, where such items can be dropped if being carried by the devotees.
6. There will be no lighting of ‘Deepa’ inside the temple by the devotees
7. There will be no partaking of Mahaprasad inside Ananda Bazar & Temple premises
8. Chewing of Tobacco/ Paan &spitting inside Ternple premises is strictly prohibited
9 Parking of vehicles will be done only at Jagannatha Ballav Math premises or any other designated place
10.Advice to senior citizen/Children/persons having co-morbidities: Persons above 65years of age, persons with co-morbidities, pregnant women & children below 10years are advised not to visit the Temple in view of the prevailing COVID19 situation.

Special Arrangements:
A. Guidelines for family members of Sevaks are as per following-
1. Family members of Sevaks will be allowed darshan from Mangal Alati till Rati Pahuda through any of the gates.
2. While entering into the temple, they are required to produce their Health Insurance Card/any other card issued by SJTA along with photo ID Card like, Aadhaar, Voter ID Card etc.
3. Entry of Non-Sevak devotees accompanying the Sevayat family members, if any, will not be allowed.
B. Guidelines for residents of Puri Municipality are as per following-
1. Queue system will open from 07.00 AM at Market Chhak.
2. Residents are required to bring with them the token provided, along with the Aadhaar Card/ Voter ID Card of all the members of the family who are visiting the Temple for darshan of Lords.
3. Residents will make entry through the barricade from Market Chhaka till Jagannatha Temple office; leave their belongings at the designated place outside the Temple; produce their ID proof for verification and follow the COVID19 guidelines of hand sanitization & thermal scanning before entering into the Temple.
4. All devotees will enter through Singhadwar. After the darshan, the exit will be through Uttaradwar.

Guidelines for all devotees who will be visiting the Temple w.e.f 03.01.2021-
1. Queue system will open from 08.00 AM at Market Chhak.
2. All devotees will be required to bring COVID-19 negative certificate (RTPCR/Antigen) of testing done within 96 hours prior to their visit to the temple.
3. All devotees will be required to bring their photo ID Card, namely, Aadhaar/Voter ID etc.
4. Devotees will make entry through the barricade from Market Chhaka till Jagannatha Temple office; leave their belongings at the designated place outside the Temple; produce their ID proof for verification and follow the COvID19 guidelines of hand sanitization & thermal scanning before entering the Temple.
5. All devotees will enter through Singhadwar. After the Darshan, the exit will be through Uttaradwar.