Bhubaneswar: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) will initiate the repair work on the inner and outer Ratna Bhandar of the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri from December 17.
The repair work of the inner Ratna Bhandar will be undertaken first.
ASI Deputy Superintendent Chittaranjan Das shared the details on Friday, emphasizing that the work will adhere strictly to the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) outlined by the temple administration.
The repair work is scheduled to begin at 12:30 PM and will continue until the evening.
Das stated, “Our focus will be on ensuring a smooth and disciplined darshan for devotees while maintaining the sanctity of the temple rituals. Senior ASI officials from Delhi will oversee the process.”
“The repairs will follow ASI’s established norms and methods. This is a holistic conservation effort, requiring significant responsibility. All technical personnel from ASI will be involved, and the work will be closely monitored by our technical core committee and senior officials. Once the inner Ratna Bhandar is stabilized, we will proceed with the outer Ratna Bhandar,” he added,
Puri Collector Siddharth Shankar Swain affirmed that all arrangements for seamless darshan and uninterrupted rituals during the repair work would follow protocols established in a preparatory meeting.
“The inventory of valuables, including gold and other ornaments of Lord Jagannath, will commence after the repair work is completed. Devotees will be able to view the deities from the ‘Bahara Katha’ during this period,” Swain explained.
The preparatory meeting, chaired by the Deputy Chief Administrator of SJTA and the Puri Collector, was held at the Shree Jagannath Temple office.
Discussions focused on ensuring smooth darshan and ritual proceedings during the repairs. Puri SP, ASI officials, and senior administrative personnel also attended the meeting.
