Puri, Dec 17: The long-awaited repair and restoration of the Ratna Bhandar at the Shri Jagannath Temple in Puri will commence today.
To ensure that the daily rituals of the Trinity are uninterrupted during the restoration process, the temple gates will be closed by 11:30 pm and will reopen at 2 am every day until the work is completed.
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which oversees the management of the 12th-century temple, has set a timeline of three months for completing the repair work. Following this, the process of inventorising the temple’s treasures will begin, as confirmed by the temple's chief administrator, Arabinda Padhee.
A team of 30 skilled workers will be engaged in the restoration of the Ratna Bhandar.
On the first day, iron pipes will be set up to provide support for the repair work. Following this, the plaster covering the chambers will be carefully removed, and subsequent repair work will proceed.
Upon completion, the old wooden doors of the Ratna Bhandar will be replaced with stainless steel doors to enhance security.
A few days ago, ASI announced that the inner chambers of the Ratna Bhandar would be addressed first as part of the phased restoration.
The repair work aims to preserve and protect the sanctity of the temple’s treasure vault, ensuring that it remains intact for future generations.
