Jagmohan repair: Grouting of 5 pockets before Snan Yatra

Bhubaneswar: Officials of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on Saturday said the agency aims to complete the grouting work of at least five of the eight damaged pockets of Jagmohan, the hall facing the 12th century shrine, before the Snan Yatra of deities on June 20.

Attending a meeting presided over by Puri Gajapati Maharaja Dibya Singha Dev here today, the officials emphasised that the renovation work should be smooth as it involves a lot of complex engineering work.

“If everything goes smooth, we aim to complete the grouting work of five pockets before the Snan Purnami. Work on the remaining three pockets will be completed and frames will be erected inside the pocket after the Anabasara period. We plan to go about it in a phased and scheduled manner so that the renovation work does not affect the rituals of the deities,” GC Mitra, chairman of the core committee, said.

“Renovation work of the single pocket located behind the sanctum sanctorum will be taken up at a later stage,” he mentioned.

Puri Gajapati informed that a schedule of the renovation work will be drawn up after field visit by the core committee this evening.

“ASI will take up the repair work which are badly needed before the Snan Yatra. The core committee will visit the temple today evening and discuss with the SJTA officials and concerned sevayats of the temple regarding the work. We have to see that there is no problem in the rituals of Snan Yatra and Anabasara of the Trinity,” Dibya Singha Dev said.

“Soon after the annual Rath Yatra on July 6, the experts of IIT-Chennai will inspect Jagmohan and discuss the next course of action,” he stated.