<p>A holy flag atop the Jagannath temple in Odisha's Puri caught fire when a grand lamp was being placed near it, officials said on Friday.</p>.<p>The incident took place when the 'Mahadeepa' or the lamp was being placed atop the 12th-century shrine by the servitors on Thursday night on the occasion of 'Papanashini Ekadashi', temple officials said.</p>.<p>The 'Mahadeepa' is placed atop the temple on special occasions, they said, adding the incident took place because of gusty winds.</p>.<p>However, the main flag was safe and the flame engulfed a smaller flag tied to the 'Neelachakra below' the principal 'Bana', sources said.</p>.<p>The fire was put out by the servitors promptly and the rituals of the temple were not affected because of the incident, they said.</p>.<p>The Jagannath temple has been closed for devotees till April 1 as a precautionary measure in view of the coronavirus outbreak.</p>.<p>A government official in Bhubaneswar said that nine samples were tested on Friday for COVID-19 and all of them were found to be negative.</p>
<p>A holy flag atop the Jagannath temple in Odisha's Puri caught fire when a grand lamp was being placed near it, officials said on Friday.</p>.<p>The incident took place when the 'Mahadeepa' or the lamp was being placed atop the 12th-century shrine by the servitors on Thursday night on the occasion of 'Papanashini Ekadashi', temple officials said.</p>.<p>The 'Mahadeepa' is placed atop the temple on special occasions, they said, adding the incident took place because of gusty winds.</p>.<p>However, the main flag was safe and the flame engulfed a smaller flag tied to the 'Neelachakra below' the principal 'Bana', sources said.</p>.<p>The fire was put out by the servitors promptly and the rituals of the temple were not affected because of the incident, they said.</p>.<p>The Jagannath temple has been closed for devotees till April 1 as a precautionary measure in view of the coronavirus outbreak.</p>.<p>A government official in Bhubaneswar said that nine samples were tested on Friday for COVID-19 and all of them were found to be negative.</p>