Puri Shree Jagannath Temple will remain closed for devotees till May 15 in the wake of surge of Covid-19 cases in Odisha as well as in Puri city.
The decision was taken after a meeting of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) with the servitors of the shrine on Saturday. Though devotees will not be allowed to enter, the age-old traditions of Niti-Kanti (rituals) of Shree Jagannath will continue with the help of servitors and temple officials.
Sources said the decision to stop the entry of devotees was taken to keep the servitors free from corona infection so that they can complete all the rituals related to Rath Yatra beginning from Akshya Tritiya, on May 15. “There has been apprehension that the Rath Yatra will be held this year like the previous year sans devotees,” said an official of the temple management committee.
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Dormitory for Puri devotees Arrangements to accommodate 3,000 to 4,000 offering beds at rates between Rs 100 and Rs 150 each
The Puri Shree Jagannath Temple Administration is planning to provide cheap accommodation to devotees who visit the shrine from all over the country, temple chief administrator Krishan Kumar announced on Saturday.
The Bhakta Niwas, which will have dormitory accommodation, will offer beds at rates between Rs 100 and Rs 150 each. It is expected to come up on a 10-acre plot at Baseli Sahi, 2.5km from the 12th century shrine.
“Devotees can stay by just paying Rs 100 to Rs 150 for one bed. There will be arrangements to accommodate 3,000 to 4,000 devotees,” an official said.