"puri"

According to the Administrator of Puri Jagannath Temple, Ajaya Jena, the servitors testing negative for Covid-19 would be allowed to participate in the pulling of the chariots.

The nine-day long car festival will commence as per schedule, and "just about 500 servitors will be allowed to pull the chariots during the period."

According to School and Mass Education Minister SR Dash, at least 1.83 lakh children of 1,916 schools, spread over the five districts, will benefit from the initiative in the first phase.

Series of special trains launched from Hyderabad and Secunderabad to popular temple towns