Allowed All the religious institutions in Bhubaneswar will reopen from February 12, announced the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) through a notification issued on Tuesday.
The decision to reopen the religious institutions has been taken after considering the decline in the number of fresh Covid-19 cases. All the necessary COVID protocols will be strictly imposed while allowing devotees inside the religious institutions, the BMC notice read.
“All the temples situated in Bhubaneswar can reopen from February 12 but with strict observance of COVID-19 safety protocols. Only those devotees who are fully vaccinated (if eligible for vaccination) will be allowed inside the temple premises,” the BMC notification read.
The devotees will be asked to produce either hard copy of the vaccination certificate or soft copy in mobile phone/ tablets to ascertain whether they are fully vaccinated. The devotees shall be required to bring their photo ID card namely Aadhar/Voter ID or any other photo ID card for identification.
“However, no devotee shall be allowed inside the Garva Griha of the temple. Darshan will be allowed from a safe distance only. There shall be no offerings like Bhoga etc. in the temple until further orders,” the notification added.
Other Details In Guidelines:
- Children below the age of 15 years shall be allowed inside the temple/religious institutions with proper proof of identification such as Aadhar card and only under the supervision of their parents or adult relatives.
- For Lord Lingaraj temple, maximum 100 devotees at a time will be allowed from Singhadwar to Ada- Katha. However, Sahan darshan /Garvagruha darshan must be completely prohibited.
All other religious institutions like mosque/church/gurudwara will also be allowed to open from February 12 for fully vaccinated devotees.
- All temple/mosque/church/gurudwara authority/management shall ensure that only the priests and Sebayats who are fully vaccinated are allowed to perform rituals. The priests/Sebayats must put on mask at all times in coherence to the COVID protocol.
- All devotees must wear mask and maintain appropriate social distancing of six feet from each other at all times.
- The temple/mosque/church/gurudwara authorities must make adequate provision for hand washing/ hand sanitizer for the devotees at the entry and exit points
-Chewing of Pan/ Ghutka and spitting must be strictly prohibited inside & outside the premises
- Persons with SARI/ILI like symptoms shall not be allowed inside.
- Persons belonging to other vulnerable groups such as those with co-morbidities, old age persons, and pregnant women are advised not to visit religious intuitions.
“The guidelines contained above shall be in force till February 28 and must be flowed scrupulously by all the concerned,” the BMC notification added.