Puri: In view of the expected high turnout of devotes during the X-mas holidays; the repair work of the Shree Jagannath Temple’s Ratna Bhandar in Puri has been suspended from December 25 to January 2. The repair work will resume on January 3.
According to Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) sources, the decision to suspend the repair works of the treasure trove of the 12th Century shrine was taken in a meeting on Tuesday.
The repair has been temporarily suspended to ensure smooth crowd management and seamless rituals and darshan during the Christmas holidays and New Year as a large number of devotees are likely to visit the temple.
The temple administration sources further stated that the repair activities will resume on January 3 next and will be carried on as per the state government-approved guidelines and the administrative protocols set by the SJTA.
Notably, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) started the repair and renovation work of Puri Srimandir Ratna Bhandar on December 17.
Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan recently informed the media that the state government had asked the ASI to complete the repair works within three months following which the process of inventory of ornaments in the Ratna Bhandar would be taken up.
