Puri: Dr.Arabinda Padhee, Chief Administrator, Shree Jagannatha Temple Administration (SJTA) said that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) today completed its technical survey of the Ratna Bhandar of Puri’s Jagannath temple, a day before its schedule.
The technical survey by experts National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI), Hyderabad was conducted to ascertain whether there is any hidden chamber or tunnel inside the Ratna Bhandar.
Though the survey was scheduled for three days (September 21 to 23), it was completed in two days, informed Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Chief Dr.Padhee.
The SJTA has barred devotees from having a ‘darshan’ of the sibling deities from 1 pm to 6 pm during the three-day survey of the treasury. However, as the ASI has already completed the survey, there will be no restriction on visit of the devotees on Monday, he said.
The SJTA Chief Administrator Dr.Padhee said the findings of the survey can be known from the ASI report.
“We hope that the ASI will submit its survey report very soon for the appraisal of the government,” Dr.Padhee said, adding, inventory of all valuables and jewelleries stored inside the treasury will be done after completion of the conservation work by the ASI.
The technical team also comprised experts from the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI), Hyderabad.
Ratna Bhandar Inventory Committee Chairman Justice Biswanath Rath, who also entered the temple to take part in the survey, said, “After getting a report from the ASI, we will take future course of action.”
Speaking to media persons here, NGRI senior scientist Anand Kumar Pandey said, “With the blessing of Lord Jagannth, the survey was completed in two days. We did all the mapping and generated huge data. Once we go back and process the data and prepare the report.”
The first round of the survey was held on September 18, when a 17-member technical team of ASI led by its Additional Director General Jahnavij Sharma conducted the preliminary inspection of Ratna Bhandar and its laser scanning in the presence of Padhee and Justice Rath.
On September 18, the SJTA Chief Dr.Padhee had written to ASI requesting for completion of the technical survey by September 24 in view of special rituals of the deities during Dussehra and ‘Kartika’ month. The rituals for Durga Puja will commence at the temple on September 24.