Puri: Just a day before opening of the Lord Jagannath temple here for devotees, the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) on Monday issued the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to ensure devotees have smooth darshan of Lords.
The revised SOP were finalised at the Chhatisha Nijog meeting which was held on January 28 through virtual mode.
As per the SOP issued by the SJTA Chief Administrator Dr Krishan Kumar, the devotees can enter the temple for darshan of the Lords from 6 am to 9 pm on all days when the temple will be open for public darshan. However, the temple will remain closed for public darshan on all Sundays for sanitation activities as a measure to contain the spread of Covid-19 disease.
All devotees will be required to bring their photo ID card (Aadhaar /Voter ID or any other photo ID card for identification) along with final certificate for Covid-19 vaccination (of having taken two doses) or Covid-19 negative certificate (RT-PCR) of testing done within 96 hours prior to the visit to the temple. This restriction will remain in force until 17.02.2022.
The same will be reviewed again before the expiry of the said date and a revised instruction, if required, will be issued keeping in view the then prevailing COVID situation, said the order.
It is mandatory for all pilgrims to wear masks at all times, inside and outside the Temple. People flouting the norms will be fined, and may be refused entry to the temple
Devotees should have to sanitize their hands before entering the temple. There will be strict enforcement for ensuring Covid appropriate behaviour by all. Devotees will have to maintain physical distance at all times as per Covid-19 guidelines.
The temple administration has set-up a camp for administering ‘Precaution Dose’ vaccine to Sevayals in the age group of 18 to 60 years. Efforts will be made to ensure that all eligible Sevayats are given the same in due time, keeping in view the health of the Sevayats.