Darshan of deities temporarily closed for ASI survey of Ratna Bhandar

Bhubaneswar, Sept 20: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is set to conduct a three-day survey of the Ratna Bhandar, the sacred treasury of the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha, starting Saturday. Arabinda Padhee, Chief Administrator of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), announced that the survey will take place on September 21, 22, and 23, beginning at 1 PM. During this period, the darshan of the deities—Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra—will be temporarily closed to devotees.

According to sources, ASI officials will carry out the technical survey from 2 PM to 5 PM, with darshan expected to resume by 6 PM. Padhee has urged the ASI Director General to ensure the completion of the survey by September 24 to accommodate special rituals planned for Dussehra and the holy month of Kartika.

Earlier this week, an expert team led by the ASI conducted the first phase of the inspection, utilizing laser scanning technology for a comprehensive assessment of the Ratna Bhandar. This technical inspection, supervised by ASI Additional Director General Jahnavij Sharma, involved high-tech gadgets and scientific equipment. A team of 26 experts from the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) and the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) in Hyderabad assisted with the laser scanning during the evaluation.