Puri: Silver cladding of prominent wooden doors, including the ones guarding the sanctum sanctorum, of Jagannath Temple in Puri has been completed.
Final touches to Mahalaxmi Temple Dwar were given late on Thursday. Square-sized silver plates have been installed on its gate. The reconstruction work of the gates of Adi Nrusingha temple and Maa Bimala temple were done earlier.
Besides, Jay Bijaya Dwar, Beheran Dwar, Satapahach Dwar and west Bhog Mandap Dwar have also been decorated with silver.
After being carved out of Burma teakwood, the doors were clad in over 2,500 kg silver sheets in a phase-wise manner.
Notably, silver plates were fitted to Jay Bijaya Dwar and west Bhog Mandap Dwar before Rath Yatra.
The Kaalahata Dwar in the sanctum sanctorum was decorated with exquisite silver handiwork in 1982. The edges of the same door were again decorated with around 300kg silver worth more than Rs 85 lakh donated by a private company in 2010.
Notably, the silver cladding work, using around 2,000 kg of silver worth about Rs 15 crore donated by Mumbai-based devotee, was taken up after the existing doors, which had worn out, were replaced with the ones made from Burma Teakwood imported from Malaysia. Artisans from Mumbai were engaged for the silver work on the doors. The artworks were selected in consultation with artisans of Raghurajpur heritage village.
Also Read: Silver Plating Of Puri Jagannath Temple Doors Completed
