A top official from the Chief Minister office has informed that after being closed for about nine months due to Covid-19 outbreak, the Odisha government on Monday has started the process for reopening religious institutions. Due to the decline in single-day Covid-19 positive cases, the authorities are now mulling reopening of religious places for devotees, he said. The number of Positive cases has been halved from November 14 which was 644 on November 14 is now 322 on December 14.
The decision to open the religious places in their respective districts were given to the District collectors, decision can be taken after discussing with stakeholders and putting standard operating procedures (SOPs) in place, Chief Secretary A K Tripathy informed in a tweet. Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) initiated measures to throw open the 12th century shrine in Puri for devotees from December 23, following this state-wide demand to reopen temples, churches and mosques was made. State Endowments Commissioner Chittaranjam Mohapatra recommended the state government to reopen temples across Odisha with strict adherence to the Covid-19 protocol.
From January 3, Puri Jagannath temple will be open for all till then only locals will be allowed inside the shrine. Bhubaneshwar, the ‘city of temples’, still preserves 700 temples, around which the religious life of the city revolves. Anil Dhir, a history researcher and project co-ordinator of INTACH said there are above 8,000 temples which are more than 100 years old across Odisha. Christians and Muslims also demands opening of Churches and Mosques. All India Christian Council, Odisha Chapter leader P R Parichha said, there are about 3,000 churches in the state. The number of mosques in Odisha is estimated to be more than 2,000.
Puri Jagannath Temple Reopens After Dec 20
Puri SP launches 24X7 call centre number to file Complaints, Odisha
Steel ministry calls for Early Operationalisation of Iron ore mines in Odisha