Puri Shree Jagannath Temple will remain closed for devotees till May 15 in the wake of surge of Covid-19 cases in Odisha as well as in Puri city. The decision was taken after a meeting of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) with the servitors of the shrine on Saturday. Though devotees will not be allowed to enter, the age-old traditions of Niti-Kanti (rituals) of Shree Jagannath will continue with the help of servitors and temple officials. Sources said the decision to stop the entry of devotees was taken to keep the servitors free from corona infection so that they can complete all the rituals related to Rath Yatra beginning from Akshya Tritiya, on May 15. “There has been apprehension that the Rath Yatra will be held this year like the previous year sans devotees,” said an official of the temple management committee.