Puri: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) today started its second round of technical survey of the Ratna Bhandar of Lord Jagannath temple here.
Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Chief Administrator Dr.Arabinda Kumar Padhee has sought co-operation of devotees as 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. The main gates of the temple were closed for devotees during the Survey.
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 SJTA Chief Dr.Padhee.
The ASI team also comprised experts from the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI). They will meticulously conduct ground ground-penetrating radar survey inside the Ratna Bhandar to find if there is any hidden chamber.
On September 18, the SJTA Chief 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.
The SJTA Chief had also requested ASI to submit the survey report within the stipulated time, sources said.
The ASI undertakes the survey on September 21, 22 and 23 during which it will be ascertained whether there is any hidden chamber or tunnel inside the Ratna Bhandar. They have brought sophisticated radar for this purpose, said an official.