Ratna Bhandar repair to resume after New Year festivities

Bhubaneswar, Dec 25: In anticipation of a significant increase in devotees during the Christmas and New Year holidays, the repair work of the Ratna Bhandar, the treasury of the iconic Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri, has been temporarily halted. The suspension will be in effect from December 25 to January 2, with work scheduled to resume on January 3.

According to the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), the decision was made during a meeting on Tuesday to ensure smooth management of crowds and uninterrupted rituals during the festive season. With thousands of devotees expected to visit the 12th-century temple, the temporary suspension aims to facilitate seamless darshan and temple operations.

The repair work, which is being carried out by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), began on December 17. The activities will resume after the holidays, following state government-approved guidelines and administrative protocols established by the SJTA.

Odisha Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan recently stated that the ASI has been directed to complete the repair work within three months. Once completed, an inventory of the Ratna Bhandar’s ornaments will be undertaken as part of the administrative process.