Bhubaneswar: The renovation work of the Puri Srimandir Ratna Bhandar will remain suspended on February 2 and 3 in view of Sri Panchami and Banakalagi. However, the renovation work of the Ratna Bhandar will continue by the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) as per the guidelines approved by the Odisha government and the Shree Jagannatha Temple Administration (SJTA), informed the temple chief administrator Dr Arabinda Kumar Padhee in a post on his X handle.
The SJTA has sought the cooperation of all concerned in this regard.
It is worth mentioning here that the repair and restoration of Shri Jagannath temple’s Ratna Bhandar commenced on December 17 but was halted on two special occasions in view of the crowd of devotees at the temple.
The ASI, custodian of the 12th century shrine, has decided to complete the work within a period of three months after which, the inventories will begin.
The repair work is being undertaken in a way that it does not disrupt the rituals of the temple or devotees’ movement and ‘darshan’ of the Trinity. Following approval of the Chhattisha Nijog – the highest decision-making body of the temple – it has been decided that the repair work may be carried out between 12.30 pm (after Madhyana Dhupa and Dwitiya Bhoga Mandap rituals) and 6.00 pm every day but the timing of work is flexible and depends on conduct of rituals.
