Puri: With the sibling deities of Shree Jagannath Temple in Odisha pilgrim town of Puri on their annual sojourn to the Gundicha temple, work on the silver cladding of the Singhadwar of the 12th century shrine has commenced.
The silver cladding of the Lions Gate is being implemented by the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA). Wooden frames for a temporary door which would be installed at the Lions Gate for the sake of rituals have been prepared. Work on the project has commenced with the fixing of iron frames for the temporary doors.
Subsequently, the brass-clad doors of the Singha Dwara will be removed and replaced with new doors made of Burma teak which will be clad with silver.
According to sources, the 15-feet high Singhadwar will be clad with around 525 kg silver which is being donated by a devotee.
Adequate measures are being taken to ensure that the original design of the door is retained. Of the four outer gates of the shrine, Singhadwar is the first one to be silver clad. The doors will have designs in conformity with the art tradition of Utkala.
Eight of the wooden doors in Bhitara Bedha or inner compound have so far been silver clad. Jay Vijay, Beherana dwara, Sata Pahacha dwara and Kalahata dwara have already been silver clad. Sources said work is scheduled to be completed before Niladri Bije when the deities of lord Balabhadra, Lord Jagannath and Devi Subhadra will return to the Ratna Singhasana inside the sanctum sanctorum of the shrine on completion of the annual Rath Yatra festival.
