Public darshan will remain closed from 1 PM onwards at Puri Jagannath Temple today: Know why

Puri, Sept 18: Public darshan of the Trinity in Puri Srimandir will remain closed from 1 PM onwards on Wednesday, as the Ratna Bhandar will reopen for a preliminary inspection by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

The state government has approved the plan involving a 26-member joint team from the ASI and the Shrimandir administration.

According to the Odisha Government's Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), all ornaments from both the inner and outer Ratna Bhandar have been temporarily moved to a strongroom, and empty almirahs and chests have also been cleared from the Ratna Bhandar.

The temple administration has asked the ASI to conduct conservation and repair work following a survey using modern techniques. It has been emphasized that these efforts should not adversely affect the temple.

Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee, chief administrator of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), has urged the ASI to complete the preservation and repair work promptly after the technical inspection.

Worth mentioning, as public darshan will remain closed until the inspection work is completed, devotees wishing to purchase Mahaprasad can enter through the Singhadwara, buy Mahaprasad from Anand Bazaar, and then exit through the North Gate.

Earlier, the Ratna Bhandar was opened on July 14 and July 18 to transfer all valuables to the strong room. It was again opened on August 23 to shift the empty almirahs and chests.