COVID19 scare: Devotees to fill up self-declaration form before entry into Jagannath temple
Puri/UNI: In a bid to prevent the spread of coronavirus, the Jagannath temple administration today made it mandatory for the devotees to fill up a self-declaration form on the health status of the family members before entering into the 12th-century shrine.
The Chhatisha nijog, the premier temple body of servitors in a meeting on Sunday resolved several measures to be enforced on the servitors and also the devotees to prevent the spread of dreaded disease.
Touching of Aruna and Garuda pillar is prohibited besides gathering of devotees on these spots to be restricted Jagannath temple Chief Administrator Dr.Krishan Kumar said.
This apart the devotees have to fill up a self-declaration form stating health status of their family and about if any member of their family is suffering from cold and cough and visited places where coronavirus has affected populace and returned within fifteen days.
The filling of this declaration form has been made mandatory to get entry into the temple. These forms would be made available at the bus stand, railway station and help desks at the temple main gate.
Gathering of devotees in Jagamohan, Laxmi temple was also prohibited. The devotees have to go into the temple in a queue and also return in a queue.
They should not touch any deities and artefacts during their visit to the temple. Darshan of the lords from “Bhitar kath” has been stopped till April 15 next.
A restriction has also been imposed on group dining in Anand Bazaar, the mahaprasad market inside the temple complex.
On the other hand, all the servitors inside the temple were asked to wear masks and to wash their hands frequently. They were instructed not to touch the eyes of devotees as per tradition and to keep a distance from them.
The puja pandals (who offer bhog and perform puja of lord Jagannath and his siblings elder Balabhadra and sister Subhadra) on Ratnasimhasan in the sanctum Sanctorum of the temple would also wear face masks while performing religious service or offering bhog, Dr.Krishen Kumar said.
Puri collector Balwant Singh today urged all servitors and devotees to comply with the directive.
Singh told media persons that all sixty-one PHCs, hospitals and district headquarter hospital (DHH) has opened corona corridor and to report if any suspicious person was found.
The Archaeological Survey of India(ASI) has closed Konark Sun temple for a fortnight from today. Since domestic and foreign tourists used to visit Sun temple in large numbers, the temple was closed for the visitors from today.
Earlier, the tourist bus, package tours to Chilika, Konark and Nandankanan were stopped by the district administration.
PRI functionaries and panchayat level government employees were asked to gather information and report from their respective area about returning of persons from corona affected states or countries within fifteen days and if any of them carry symptoms of the disease.
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