Keonjhar: The famous Tarini temple in Ghatagaon of the district will be reopening for devotees from January 18. The temple’s trust has issued detailed guidelines for the entry of the public amid COVID-19 restrictions.
According to a notice issued by ‘Maa Tarini Thakurani Mandira’ Trust, Ghatagaon, no offerings will be allowed into the temple. This includes coconut, flowers, incense sticks, and earthen lamps.
According to the legends, Goddess Tarini, the principal deity of the tribal dominated district is very fond of coconuts as an offering. Devotees from across the state send coconuts to Tarini temple and pray for their wishes to be fulfilled.
However, as the temple reopens amid COVID-19 protocols, the devotees will not be able to offer the favourite offering to the goddess. Besides, the ‘Anna’ bhoga or the cooked prasad will not be provided on the premises, till the restrictions are in force.
The temple is opening after the duration of 10 months for which the devotees are very happy. The family members of priests will get the first right of ‘darshan’ from 8 am to 9 am. The general public will be allowed for darshan between 9 am to 12:30 pm, the notice read.
Devotees will not be allowed to perform the ritual of tonsuring the heads of children on the temple premises. Apart from this, children below the age of 10 years cannot enter the temple.
Devotees will not be allowed to witness the Sakala Alati (early morning ritual), Anna Prasad Niti (offerings ritual), Sandhya Alati (evening ritual), and the Pahada (ritual before closing the temple for the day), till these restrictions are in force, the Temple Trust’s notice further stated.
