ASI Begins Phase-II Survey Of Puri Jagannath Temple Ratna Bhandar; Darshan Restricted

Puri: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) resumed survey of Ratna Bhandar (the sacred treasury) of Shree Jagannath Temple in Odisha’s Puri on Saturday.

The second phase of inspection, which commenced at 2 pm, will continue for three days and darshan by devotees has been restricted in view of the survey work.

According to Chief Administrator of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Arabinda Padhee, the survey work will continue for three days till September 23 from 1 pm onwards. “Darshan of the sibling deities Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra will be closed for devotees during the survey work,” he said.

However, the daily rituals will continue. Devotees intending to buy mahaprasad from Ananda Bazaar will be required to enter through the Simhadwar and exit through the North gate, the temple administration informed in a press release on Friday.

The inspection, survey began in presence of the Ratna Bhandar committee members.
As per sources, the ASI officials will conduct technical survey of the Ratna Bhandar from 2 pm to 5 pm and darshan is likely to be suspended till 6 pm.

Padhee had written to ASI Director General requesting completion of Ratna Bhandar’s technical survey by September 24 in view of special rituals of the Deities during Dussehra ‘Shola Puja’ and holy month of Kartika.

Sources said, the SJTA Chief also requested ASI to submit the survey report within the stipulated time.

On Wednesday, an experts’ team led by the ASI conducted first phase of inspection of Ratna Bhandar during which a detailed assessment was done using laser scanners. Under the supervision of ASI Additional Director General (ADG) Jahnavij Sharma the technical inspection was undertaken using high-tech gadgets and other scientific equipment to conduct a detail assessment of the Ratna Bhanbdar, said sources.

A team of 26 experts from the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) and National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI), Hyderabad, carried out laser scanning during the inspection, said sources.

Among others, Chief Administrator Padhee, and Chairman of Ratna Bhandar Inventory Committee Justice Biswanath Rath were present during the inspection on Wednesday, the sources added.