Amid the rising Covid-19 cases in Odisha, the Maa Tarini Temple at Ghatagaon in Keonjhar district will remain out of bounds for the devotees on Makar Sankranti tomorrow.
The district administration has decided to close the temple on January 14 to avoid crowding at the shrine on the occasion of Makar Sankranti, a notification stated.
"In view of observation of Makar Sankranti, anticipating huge gathering at the premises of the Maa Tarini Temple Ghatagaon, it is hereby ordered to close the temple for public darshan on 14.01.2022 to avoid gathering as requested by the president, Maa Tarini Thakurani Trust, Ghatagaon," the notification issued by the Keonjhar district collector and magistrate read.
"On the occasion of Makar Sankranti, there will be no public darshan at Maa Tarini temple," said Rajendra Patnaik, president of the temple trust board.
Similarly, the famous Makar Mela at Baghamari has been called off owing to the present Covid-19 situation. The District administration has imposed prohibitory orders under Sec 144 at Hattakeshwar temple and Atri spring premises until further orders to avoid crowding. However, all the rituals will be allowed at the shrine with a maximum of five priests.
Meanwhile, the Cuttack district administration has also decided to impose Section 144 of CrPC at the famous Lord Dhabaleswar shrine tomorrow on the occasion of Makar Sankranti.
The restrictions will be in force from 6 am to 10 pm on Friday. However, all the rituals will be performed behind the doors.