Inner Ratna Bhandar repair work of Puri Srimandir will be carried out first: ASI

First inner and then outer Ratna Bhandar repair work of Puri Srimandir will be conducted from December 17, informed Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) Deputy Superintendent Chittaranjan Das on Friday.

According to Das, Ratna Bhandar work will be executed as per the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) of the temple administration. He further said that the work will start from 12.30 pm and continue till the evening.

“Emphasis will be given to smooth and disciplined darshan of the devotees and the rituals of the deities during the repair work. Senior ASI officials from Delhi will monitor the work,” said Das.

“The repair work will be conducted as per the norms and the methods of ASI. It is a holistic conservation approach in which ASI has a huge responsibility. All the technical workers of ASI will be involved in the repair work and it will be monitored by the senior officials. Our technical core committee will also monitor the work from time to time. After stabilizing the inner Ratna Bhandar, we will start the work of the outer Ratna Bhandar,” he added.

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Meanwhile, Puri Collector Siddharth Shankar Swain said that decisions about all kinds of arrangements for the smooth darshan of the devotees and the ritual process of the temple will be taken during the preparatory meeting of Ratna Bhandar repair work.

“The inventory process of all the valuables, including gold and other ornaments of Lord Jagannath will start after the completion of the repair work of Ratna Bhandar. The devotees could have the darshan of the deities from ‘Bahara Katha’,” said Swain.

Earlier a preparatory meeting was held at Puri Srimandir office under the chairmanship of the Deputy Chief Administrator of SJTA and Puri Collector for the repair work of Ratna Bhandar. Discussion was also made on how to facilitate the smooth darshan of the devotees and conduct all the rituals during the repair work. Puri SP, ASI officials and senior administrative officials were present in the meeting.