Puri Srimandir to remain closed for 2 hours today

Puri: The Puri Srimandir will remain closed for the general public for two hours on account of President of India, Ram Nath Kovind’s visit today.

Reportedly, the flight will depart from Delhi at 12.25 pm and has been scheduled to arrive at Bhubaneswar’s Biju Patnaik International Airport at 2.45 pm.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will receive President Kovind at the airport today in the presence of Chief Secretary Suresh Mohapatra, Police DG Sunil Bansal, and Governor Ganeshi Lal.

Thereafter he will land at Puri Talabania helipad and arrive at 3.50 pm following which he will go to Srimandir for darshan.

Besides Jagannath darshan today, thr President will inaugurate the celebration of 150th birth anniversary of Srimad Bhakti Sidhant Saraswati Goswami Prabhupada, the founder of Goudiya Mission tomorrow. Later he will attend a program of Sri Chaitanya Gaudiya Mutt. The mutt authorities have been instructed not to delay rituals and avoid a lapse in security measures.

Around 40 platoons of police force will be deployed for the security of President Kovind. About 200 police officers will be also deployed to ensure smooth conduct of the programmes.

It is to be noted that the Srimandir will remain closed for public darshan from 4 pm to 6 pm on February 19 on account of the visit of the President Kovind.

Adding to it, Puri King Gajapati Maharaj Dibyasingh Deb has reportedly tested positive for COVID-19 earlier on Friday.

In a press release, the office of King Gajapati Divyasingh Deb said that the King was slated to welcome President Ram Nath Kovind during his visit to Puri today. However as his report turned out to be positive for the deadly virus, he has decided to stay in seven-day home isolation and not attend any public meeting.