Puri: The routine annual joint inspection of the Shree Jagannath Temple by a 20-plus-member multi-disciplinary team comprising experts from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), technical core committee members of the 12th century shrine and officials of the Works Department during the nine-day sojourn of Lord Jagannath and His siblings to Shree Gundicha Temple has commenced.
The teams are closely examining the condition of the shrine’s Garbha Gruha-sanctum sanctorum, Nata Mandap-dance hall, Jagamohana-assembly hall, floor of the Rosha Ghara-kitchen, the floor of the Bhoga Mandap-pedestal on which food is offered to the Lords, etc.
“We will be inspecting the condition of the sanctum sanctorum like it is done every year. Conservation work of the Jagamohana was done. We will check if anything else needs to be done. Also, the Nata Mandap will be inspected. Everything will be inspected,” informed Ashok Kumar Mohapatra, former Superintending Engineer, ASI.
Removal of the soot layer formed inside the sanctum sanctorum, dance hall and assembly hall, by chemical washing, cleaning of the first and second storeys, and checking of the ventilation system will be completed before Niladri Bije.
Over the last few months rodents and cockroaches have turned out to be menace inside the sanctum sanctorum of the temple.
“To curb the menace of rodents and cockroaches biotech treatment will be done apart from fixing of meshes and plugging of holes to prevent their entry. A multi-disciplinary team of experts are examining the problem, necessary and appropriate measures will be taken,” informed Ranjan Kumar Das, Chief Administrator, Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA).
