Puri (SunstarTV Bureau): Under with strict COVID restriction, the sacred Pankodhar Neeti of Shri Lokanath will be observed on Tuesday as directed by the local district administration.
according to the auspicious ritual, Pankodhar, which essentially means ‘recover from mud’, gets its name from the sacred practice of cleaning of the lingam by servitors in presence of thousands of devotees at the centuries-old shrine.
As every year, far from devotees come to get a rare chance of visiting the temple and witnessing of the holy rituals of the deity Shri Lokanath. However, this year due to pandemic restrictions, the local administration has forbidden residents and outside people to visit the auspicious occasion.
Bhabatarana Sahu, Sub-Collector of Puri said, “As the state is now witnessing new COVID cases, so the holy ritual of Pankodhar Neeti will be conducted under the COVID guidelines provided by the state government. Usually the ritual takes 3 hours for completion but this time around, it may take more than usual as the rituals will be conducted by limited servitors. Though the devotees are allowed to enter the temple after 2 pm but no one is permitted to enter inside the Gambhira of the temple,” Sahu added.
While briefing media Puri SP, Kanwar Vishal Singh said, “Police will ensure a hassle-free visit for the devotees for darshan after completion of the ritual but all the devotees are required to follow the COVID guidelines and help the police to maintain law and order.”
