Bhubaneswar: Demands have been increasing for reopening of all religious places in the state capital. The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) declared Tuesday that people would be able to visit all temples in the city from January 3.
Addressing a press meet here, the BMC Commissioner Prem Chandra Chaudhary stated that though the Lingaraj temple will reopen December 27, only servitors and their family members will be allowed entry from December 27 to 31. The temple will remain closed January 1 and 2 to avoid large congregation of devotees.
“Denizens of Bhubaneswar will be allowed to enter the temple from January 3 to 5 and people from outside Bhubaneswar can visit the temple from January 6. Devotees will be allowed to enter the temple only after submitting a COVID-19 negative report of a test that must be conducted 4-5 days prior to visiting the temple,” Chaudhary said.
The BMC Commissioner further mentioned that a maximum of 500 devotees will be allowed to remain on the temple premises at any given time. “The Lingaraj Temple management committee will be giving us an undertaking mentioning the capacity of maximum people that will be accommodated on their premises maintaining social distancing norms,” he added.
Meanwhile, in order to facilitate the devotees to undergo the COVID-19 test, a screening camp will also be set up near the temple which will remain open from 7.00am to 10.00pm. The same guidelines will be applicable for other temples in the city. Chaudhary maintained that the shrine management committees will have to give the undertaking to the BMC on the measures taken in adherence to the COVID-19 guidelines prior to re-opening their premises.