Jaya-Vijay statues reinstalled at Puri Srimandir

Puri: Hours before commencement of Snana Purnima (bathing rituals) of Lord Jagannath and his divine siblings today, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) reinstalled statues of Jaya and Vijay at the Lion’s Gate of Srimandir here late last night.

Of the pair of statues, the idol of Jaya was damaged during the extremely severe cyclonic storm FANI that hit the Odisha coast on May 3.

The ASI will begin repair work of others parts of the centuries-old temple that have been damaged due to cyclone from Ratha Jatra (July 4). Repair work of Garbha Griha (sanctum sanctorum), Nata Mandap, Rosa Ghara (temple kitchen) and Jagmohan inside the temple will be repaired between July 4 and July 14 (Bahuda Jatra).

Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Chief Pradipta Mohapatra had earlier said that though no crack has been found on the roof of the Garbha Griha,  ASI will carry out an inspection on the basis of the complaints by servitors about seepage of water into the innermost chamber during cyclone FANI.