Puri: The world famous Lord Jagannath temple in Odisha’s pilgrim city of Puri reopened from today, almost nine months after it was closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, the Srimandir will reopen in a graded manner for all devotees.
The devotees from Puri would be allowed for five days in the first phase followed by people from the rest of the State, according to the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA).
The Srimandir will be reopened for all devotees from January 3 onwards. Covid-19 negative certificate will be mandatory for entry into the temple from January 3 and identity cards are must for the temple servitors and employees of the SJTA.
A maximum of 5,000 devotees will be allowed to have darshan from January 3. The temple will remain closed on January 1 and 2 in view of the possibility of the rush of devotees to the pilgrim town on New Year’s Day.
Earlier, Chhatisa Nijog, the apex body of the Jagannath temple priests, sent a proposal to the State Government recommending the re-opening of the 12th-century shrine.