Bhubaneswar: World famous Lord Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar will reopen for devotees from September 1 with strict adherence to the Covid-19 guidelines.
The temple will reopen as per the guidelines issued by Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) for reopening of religious places in the city. A double dose vaccination certificate is mandatory for the public to enter the shrine.
Servitors with RT-PCR negative reports along with certificates of double doses of vaccines will be allowed to perform rituals in the temple. In addition, wearing of mask is mandatory for them.
Devotees can have darshan of Lord Lingaraj from Ada Katha (wooden wall inside the temple) from September 1. It is mandatory for visitors to furnish proof of two doses of vaccination certificates either on paper or mobile phone at the entrance, it said.
Entering sanctum sanctorum is strictly forbidden for devotees. A maximum number of 100 devotees can go from the Lion’s Gate to Ada Katha to offer prayer to Lord Lingaraj at a time. Servitors cannot accept any offerings from the devotees and devotees will be allowed to have darshan only, the guidelines said.
All devotees have been asked to wear a mask and maintain a social distance of 6 feet from each other. The temple authorities will arrange for the devotees to wash their hands and sanitize their hands at the entry and exit. Spitting pan, tobacco in and outside the temple is prohibited.
People with Covid like symptoms have been barred to enter the temple. Maximum 25 people have been allowed to gather inside the temple. Thermal screening of devotees will be conducted at the Lion’s Gate of the temple.
BMC has warned of revoking the decision of reopening temple in case of violation of Covid protocols.
Earlier on Friday, a team of Archeological Survey of India (ASI) visited the Lingaraj temple and inspected the condition of the 11th century shrine.
