Odisha: Srimandir repair works during Rath Yatra

Bhubaneswar:  The repair work of the Jagannath Temple in Puri will be done during the world famous Rath Yatra by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), an official said today.

The nine-day Jagannath Rath Yatra begins on July 4 this year.

The ASI team will inspect the Garbha Griha (sanctum sanctorum) of the main temple on July 5 and 6 and will complete the repair work by the evening on July 14.

This was decided in a meeting related to the safety of the Jagannath Temple here this afternoon.

The ASI will begin repair work of the Garbha Griha (sanctum sanctorum), Nata Mandap, Rosa Ghara (temple kitchen) and Jagmohan inside the temple premises between Rath Yatra and Bahuda Yatra, Chief Administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), Pradipta Mahapatra told reporters.

He further said that the newly-carved stone idol of Jaya-Vijay will be replaced with the damaged one and consecrated on July 16.

In the meeting it was also decided that a chemical analysis of the Neelachakra (blue wheel) to know its durability.

“There is no damage to the structure (Neelachakra). “Steps will be taken to strengthen its base,” Mahapatra added.

Earlier, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik after visiting Srimandir asked the ASI and SJTA to inspect the damage caused by cyclonic storm Fani and complete repair work by June 17.

The cyclonic storm that hit the state on May 3 has caused several damages at Srimandir. The kitchen, servitors’ restroom and a few sheds at the temple have been destroyed by the storm.