The Sree Jagannath Temple of Puri, Odisha has announced that that it will open its doors for pilgrims from the 25th of July. The reopening will be done after the Raath Yatra of 2021 is completed with limited people being present.
The decision was taken by the members of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA). The earlier decision was to reopen the temple premises for public by the 15th of July. The extension of these restrictions was announced by the chief administrator of Sree Jagannath Temple Administration, Krishan Kumar. According to a report, the final guidelines for the festival and the subsequent entry for religious tourists will be announced on a latter date.
Only the servitors or chariot pullers of the Raaths or chariots of the Gods will be allowed to take part in this year’s Raath Yatra like last year. No public gathering or participation will be allowed in this year’s version of the annual celebration. Similar decisions were taken for the Ambubachi Mela of the Kamakhya Temple of Assam.
The Raath Yatra is the annual festival of the temple and last year one of the appointed servitors of the event tested positive right on the eve of the Raath Yatra during the compulsory testing.
