Bhubaneswar:The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) today started repair work of Ratna Bhandar of the Jagannath temple here following standard operating procedure. The maintenance work started around 1 PM and continued till 6 PM.
“The ASI has assured us a three-month timeline, but we have requested them to expedite the process,” Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan told reporters in Bhubaneswar.
Shri Harichandan said the repair work will be carried out without affecting the daily rituals of deities inside the 12th century shrine, and the timings for devotees, who can enter the temple till a certain point during the renovation.
Everyday, the repair work will be conducted for five to six hours after the second ‘Bhoga Mandap’ (ritual ending around 12.30 PM).
Keeping the next 50 years in mind, the ASI will be completing all the necessary repairs in Ratna Bhandar, he added.
ASI Superintending Archaeologist D B Garnayak said: “We will set up scaffolding first before removing plasters from the walls of the Ratna Bhandar (temple treasury). The entire structure will then be cleaned, and the repair of the old iron beams and cracked stones will be undertaken.” Both the inner and outer chambers will undergo repair, he said.
The repair work will not be carried out tomorrow due to some important rituals, the ASI officials said.
During the repair works, devotees visiting the temple can have darshan from outside the ‘Bahara Katha’. The renovation of the Ratna Bhandar will not be carried out on Saturdays and Sundays, and other holidays, keeping in view the crowd of devotees, the official said.
The Ratna Bhandar was reopened in July after 46 years for documenting inventory of valuables and repair of the structure.
“The technical personnel of ASI are engaged in the repair work, which will be conducted under the direct supervision of senior officials. Our technical core committee will also monitor the work from time to time,” Shri Garnayak said.
Those involved in the repair process are donning traditional attire like the servitors of the temple, officials said. They have also been provided special identity cards.