TNI Bureau: The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has issued guidelines for opening of public worship in religious places/places of worship with appropriate Covid-19 restrictions. Special permission has been given to the Church for December 25.
? All religious institutions except Lord Lingaraj Temple will reopen from January 3, 2021 with strict observance of Covid-19 protocols.
? Lingaraj Temple will reopen on December 27. However, from December 27 to 31, only the families of the temple Sevayats will be allowed to enter the 11th century shrine. As per the plans, the general darshan by devotees to the shrine will be allowed from January 6, 2021. Initially, maximum of 500 devotees will be allowed inside the temple per day.
? Wearing masks, social distancing of six feet and hand sanitisation are mandatory at all religious places of worship.
? Church under the jurisdiction of BMC, will be allowed to open on 25th December in view of Christmas celebrations. However, the Church authorities will have submit the undertaking/declaration to BMC regarding the accommodation of maximum number of devotees at one point of time following the social distancing norms. The permission will be valid for December 25 only.
? Spitting inside and outside the premises and chewing of PAN/Gutkha is strictly prohibited.
? People with SARI/ILI like symptoms won’t be allowed to enter the religious institution. Other vulnerable group of people such as person with co-morbidities, old age persons, pregnant women or children below 10 years of age are advised not to visit the religious institutions.