Dhabaleswar Temple, Cuttack has reopened for the public from August 6 with all the necessary Covid guidelines and protocols. The temple was closed for three months in the wake of the second wave of the Covid pandemic.
Even though devotees are allowed entry to the temple, the shrine’s administration has also implemented some restrictions. The offerings like bhoga from outside will not be allowed into the temple. To avoid the rush of devotees into the shrine due to the ongoing Shravan month, only 50 devotees are allowed entry at a time through the hanging bridge that leads the way to the temple island.
Further people from the age group above 65 years of age, children below 10 years of age, and pregnant women have been discouraged from visiting the temple to avoid possible Covid-19 infection. Devotees can have darshan in the usual manner between 6 am and 8 pm every day.
As per the decision, the temples will be opened every day from 7 am and closed before the evening Alati at 6 pm. The administration has implemented curbs on the access of devotees into the Garbha Gruha (Sanctum Sanctorum) of the temples. Similarly, the offering of bhoga and partaking of Prasad have been banned in the temple premises. Only 15 people are being allowed to enter the temples at a time.
The district authorities of Jagatsinghpur informed that Sarala Temple and Gorekhanath have also thrown their gates open for devotees.
