By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR/PURI: The Chhatisa Nijog meeting was held on 10.12.2021 under the chairmanship of Chief Administrator, SJTA Dr Krishan Kumar to approve the Niti Nirghanta for the Pahili Bhog of Mahaprabhu to be perfomed from 16.12.2021 to 13.01.2022 along with Niti Nirghanta for Makara Sankranti and Debabhisheka Purnima scheduled to be performed on 14.01.2022 and 17.01.2022 respectively in ShreeMandira. In the meeting, discussions were also held to review & revise the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) notified vide Order No.- 10521, 10930 and 11664 dated 13.10.2021, 27.10.2021 and 17.11.2021
respectively.
The meeting was attended by S.P, Puri, Senior Officials of SJTA & Chhatisa Nijog members of Shree Jagannatha Temple. In view the large number of devotees visiting Shree Jagannatha Temple &a possible onset of the 3rd wave of COVID-19 Pandemic, a detailed discussion was held and a decision was taken to revise the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to the extent provided hereunder. These revisions in the SOP will come into force w.e.f. 16.12.2021.
- The devotees can enter the temple for the darshan of Lordsfrom 05:30 AM to 09:30 PM on all days, when temple is open for public darshan.
- However, the Temple will remain closed for darshan on 31.12.2021 and 01.01.2022 (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.Further, the Temple will remain closed for public darshan on all Sundays as per the SOP notified vide Order no. 10521 dated 13.10.2021.
- Jaya Bijaya Dwar and Beherana Dwar remains closed for performance of special rituals like Banaka Lagi & 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, to visit Anand Bazaar etc. Wide publicity in this regard should be taken up to make everyone aware that during such times, though devotees will be able to go inside the temple, but 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 anagement of COVID-19 pandemic,”Chief Administrator SJTA, said.
