Puri Srimandir servitors to undergo COVID-19 test ahead of Snana Jatra

Sambad English Bureau Published On : May 24, 2020 at 4:51 PM Updated On : May 25, 2020 at 8:20 AM

A servitor undergoing thermal screening in front of Singha Dwara of Jagannath Temple. (File Pic)

Puri: As part of precautionary measure for smooth conduct of Snana Jatra of Lord Jagannath at Srimandir in Puri, the servitors associated with the rituals will undergo COVID-19 test ahead of the festival scheduled on June 5.

As many as 172 Garabadu servitors of the Jagannath Temple will be tested on May 29 and 30 to detect novel coronavirus, informed Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Development Administrator Ajay Kumar Jena after chairing an awareness programme on COVID-19 held for servitors at Niladri Bhakta Niwas on Saturday.

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According to reports, the SJTA has started preparation for the annual Snana Jatra on Deba Snana Purnima popularly known as Jyestha Purnima that falls on June 5 this year. Accordingly, the awareness programmes are being held for the servitors associated with the festival for performing the rituals by following the social distancing norms.

After Daitapati nijog, an awareness camp was organised on Saturday for Garabadu servitors to spread COVID awareness among them ahead of the much-awaited festival. During the programme, the servitors had given a suo moto proposal to the temple administration for COVID-19 test before being engaged in service of Lord Jagannath during Snana Jatra.

The temple administration decided to conduct COVID-19 test on 172 servitors of Garabadu nijog after receiving their proposal during the programme, Jena said.