Inspection of Sri Mandir Ratna Bhandar on Apr 4, confirms Odisha govt official

Puri: Putting all speculations to rest, Ratna Bhandar (store house/repository of ornaments) of Sri Mandir, the 12^th century shrine in Odisha’s Pilgrim town-Puri will be opened on April 4 (Wednesday) for inspection of its structural stability and safety.

The Ratna Bhandar of the Sri Jagannath Temple will be opened after completion of dwitya bhoga mandap(offering of Prasad to the Lords) and the temple will remain closed for darshan by public during the time of inspection.

“It has been decided to open the Ratna Bhandar on April 4 (Wednesday) for inspection of its roof and walls after completion of dwitya bhoga mandap. Whatever that is required for that is being done. ASI (Archaeological Survey of India) has given the names of its three engineers who will be part of the inspection team. The detail letter in this regard from the ASI is on its way. And all others whose names have been already announced will be part of the inspection team,” informed Sri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Chief Administrator Pradip Kumar Jena here today.

“Everything will be done in conformity with the procedures defined in the Record of Rights (ROR). Each one of the team members will perform his responsibility accordingly,” he added.

However, there was no official word on whether the  inspection team size as earlier announced would remain 10 or increase to 11 with ASI increasing its team size by one more member.

It’s worth mentioning here that the SJTA Chief Administrator had on March 30 announced that in the ten member team there would be two engineers from the ASI.

At the Chhatisa Nijog (apex body of temple servitors) meeting on March 30 it was decided that the ten member team would be led by Puri King Gajapati Maharaj Dibya Singha Deb.

The other members of the team as earlier announced were Patajoshi Mahapatra, Bhandar Mekap, Tadhau Karan, Deula Karan, two engineers of the ASI, two members of ASI Core Committee- G C Mitra and N C Pal and engineer-turned-advocate NK Mohanty, who has been appointed Amicus Curiae by the Orissa High Court to inspect the ongoing Jagamohan repair works.

The Managing Committee of Sri Jagannath Temple in its second meeting on March 29 had finalized Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to be adopted at the time of opening of Ratna Bhandar.