ASI To Laser Scan Ratna Bhandar Of Puri Jagannath Temple From Tomorrow

Puri: With month-long Kartika brata coming to an end and Habisyalis, observing fast in Puri, returning home, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) will begin laser scanning of Ratna Bhandar (the treasury) of Jagannath Temple in Odisha’s pilgrim town on Tuesday to ascertain its structural stability.

According to reports, the ASI will conduct laser scanning of the outer wall of Ratna Bhandar as well as its northern wall, which is the point of conjunction between Ratna Bhandar and the main temple. Every stone of Ratna Bhandar, which is a later edition to the 12th-century shrine, will be scanned for every minute crack and damage and documented.

The documentation will help in evaluating the condition of the physical structure of Ratna Bhandar and planning its conservation. “The ASI will submit the laser scanning assessment report to Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), which will then be reviewed by a technical expert team. A decision on taking up repair works of Ratna Bhandar will be taken accordingly,” said temple’s chief administrator Ranjan Das.

He further said that laser scanning of outer treasury will be done on November 28  and that of inner treasury and different Parshwa Debata temples subsequently if required. “A scanning machine has already reached ASI authorities and the SJTA is extending all necessary cooperation and assistance,” he added.

Earlier in 2018 and 2022, the ASI had written to the SJTA seeking permission to examine and conserve Ratna Bhandar.