The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) on Wednesday issued Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the reopening of the temple.
The revised guidelines will come into effect from tomorrow (December 16, 2021). The SOP has been finalised during the Chhatisa Nijog meeting held on December 10.
The meeting was convened to discuss and approve the Niti Nirghanta for the Pahili Bhog of Lord Jagannath to be performed from December 16 to January 13, 2022 along with Niti Nirghanta for Makara Sankranti and Debabhisheka Purnima scheduled to be performed on January 14 and January 17, 2022, respectively.
“In view of the large number of devotees visiting Shree Jagannath Temple and a possible onset of the third wave of COVID-19 pandemic, a detailed discussion was held and a decision was taken to revise the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). These revisions in the SOP will come into force w.e.f. 16.12.2021,” the SJTA notification read.
Details of New SOP for Puri Srimandir:
1. The devotees can enter the temple for the darshan of the Lords from 5:30 AM to 9:30 PM on all days, when temple is open for public darshan.
2. The temple will remain closed for darshan on December 31, 2021 and January 1, 2022 (English New Year Day) in order to avoid any spike in transmission of Covid-19 on account of large gathering that is anticipated on those days. The temple will remain closed for public darshan on all Sundays as per the SOP notified vide Order no. 10521 dated 13.10.2021.
3. Jaya Bijaya Dwar and Beherana Dwar remains closed for performance of special rituals like Banaka Lagi and Paita Lagi. As of now, entry to temple for that period of time was prohibited under the SOP's issued earlier. However, now onwards there will be no restrictions on entry of devotees to the temple complex for darshan of Parshva Devtas and to visit Anand Bazaar.
Though devotees will be able to go inside the temple, they will not be able to have darshan of Lords till completion of such rituals.
“The above guidelines will be reviewed periodically and revised instructions will be issued from time to time to further facilitate Darshan by devotees and also for Management of COVID-19 pandemic,” the notification added.