After remaining closed for public for over three months, temples and all other religious institutions in Cuttack district will reopen from tomorrow amid strict adherence to Covid-19 protocols.
However, the reopening of shrines and places of worship in Cuttack city will be decided by the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC), said Collector Bhabani Shankar Chayani.
“Devotees will have to follow Covid appropriate behaviour like social distancing norms, wearing of mask and hand hygiene while entering the religious places. No religious/spiritual congregation will be allowed at any place. The CMC will decide on the reopening of temples and religious sites in the city,” Chayani added.
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Temples and religious places in Sambalpur and Puri districts reopened today amid strict adherence to covid norms. However, the Sri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) will decide on the reopening of Srimandir in Puri.
The Puri district administration has barred opening of temple on weekends due to shutdown restrictions. However, the Sun temple at Konark and IOCL Interpretation Centre will remain open for tourists every day.
Similarly, the famous shrine of Goddess Samaleswari, the presiding deity of Western Odisha, reopened today amid Covid norms. The Sambalpur district administration also allowed functioning of other religious places in the district from today.
The Nandankanan Zoological Park in Bhubaneswar was also thrown open to public from today. The zoo authorities have made online ticket booking arrangements as manual booking has been barred.
In the unlock guidelines for August, the Odisha government had authorised District Collectors/ Municipal Commissioners to take decision over allowing devotees to offer prayers at religious places with COVID-19 restrictions.
The government, however, had barred offering of bhoga and puja materials inside the temples and places of worship.