BHUBANESWAR: Along with Ratna Bhandar, the Garbha Gruha or sanctum sanctorum of the Shree Jagannath temple in Puri will be taken up for repair and renovation during the Rath Yatra, when the Trinity will be away at Gundicha temple.
The pending repair works for the Ratna Bhandar, which are currently suspended due to Chandan Yatra and other rituals, will resume from June 28 and continue till July 6. This decision was taken during a review meeting of the technical advisory committee of Srimandir and Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on conservation works of Ratna Bhandar and Garbha Gruha. This year, Rath Yatra will be celebrated on June 27 and Niladri Bije on July 8.
Chief administrator of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Arabinda Padhee said, “The ASI has been asked to complete the chemical washing and scientific conservation of outer parts of Ratna Bhandar in seven to 10 days. While five damaged beams in the Bhitara Bhandar have been replaced with stainless steel beams, four to five beams in the Bahara Ratna Bhandar will also be replaced with stainless steel box beams.”
The SJTA will also replace the metal mesh gate and wooden door of Bahara Bhandar with stainless steel gate and a door made with Burma teak wood, respectively. Subsequently, the SJTA has proposed to silver clad the new door of Bahara Bhandar and clad the door of Bhitara Bhandar with gold. Apart from this, air-conditioners (ACs) will be installed inside the Natya Mandap of the shrine for comfort of the devotees.
Superintending archaeologist (Puri circle) of ASI Dibishida Garnayak said the condition of the existing wooden frame with wire mesh in Bimana (structure over the Ratna Simhasana in Garbha Gruha) is extremely poor. It has been decided to replace it with a stainless steel structure as a protection measure, as per suggestion of the technical advisory committee. Besides, works like chemical treatment, strength monitoring of Garbha Gruha will be done.
Both the SJTA and the ASI are planning to complete construction of the ramp at the north gate (Uttara Dwara) of the shrine for ease of entry of persons with disabilities and senior citizens from outer ‘bedha’ to inner ‘bedha’ of the shrine, during the Rath Yatra to the Niladri Bije period.