ASI Begins Repair Of Ratna Bhandar In Puri Jagannath Temple

Puri: The much-awaited repair and restoration work in the Ratna Bhandar (treasury) of Shree Jagannath Temple in Odisha’s Puri town began on Tuesday.

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) started the work after the second Bhoga Mandap. The work is being carried out in accordance with the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) laid down by the state government, sources said.

Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan said the repair work is expected to be completed within three months. The ASI has sought a three-month timeline, but the government has urged them to expedite the process, he told reporters.

During repair work, devotees will not be able to have Darshan of the Trinity from Bhitara Katha. However, they can have darshan of the deities from the Bahar Katha.

The whole operation has been scheduled carefully to ensure that temple rituals and darshan of the sibling deities by devotees are not affected in any manner, the Minister said. All efforts will be made to ensure that the rituals of the Lords are not affected due to the repair work.

Devotees visiting the temple during the repair work can have darshan of the deities from outside the Bahara Katha.

As per the plan, the repair work will be conducted for around five hours daily, from around 12.30 pm or 1 pm and up to 6 pm

The ASI is now setting iron poles and sitting platforms on the first day. Subsequently, de-plastering and repair of old iron beams and cracked stones will be undertaken.

Repair work will be undertaken in both inner and outer chambers of the Ratna Bhandar. The workers and technical persons would first repair the damaged parts of inner Ratna Bhandar in presence of ASI experts and then move on to the outer chamber of the treasury.

“The technical personnel of ASI are being engaged in the repair work which will be conducted under direct supervision of senior officials. Our technical core committee will also monitor the work from time to time,” an ASI official said.