Puri: Prohibitory orders will be imposed in parts of Puri ahead of Lord Jagannath's annual 'Snan Purnima' festival on June 5 to prevent congregation of devotees in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, the district administration said on Tuesday.
After a meeting with the members of the 'Chhattisha Nijog' (36 groups of servitors), District Collector Balwant Singh said restrictions under Section 144 of the Criminal Penal Code (CrPC) will be imposed from 10 pm on June 4 till 2 pm on June 6 in the seaside town of Puri.
As it has been decided to celebrate Lord Jagannath's 'Snan Purnima' (bathing rituals) in the presence of a limited number of servitors at a specific altar close to the temple's boundary wall, people should not congregate there, he said.
The decision was taken to ensure strict implementation of the COVID-19 guidelines and avoid large congregations in the pilgrim town, he added.
Earlier, the state government had urged the railways to stop running trains to Puri till further orders.
Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) made it clear that the Puri temple will remain out of bounds for devotees till completion of the Rath Yatra on July 5.
People should not congregate in Puri to witness 'Snan Purnima' on June 5, Rath Yatra on June 23 and other related rituals, said Gajapati Maharaja of Puri Divyasingha Deb.