Jagannath temple repair work will start in December: Arun Kumar Sahoo

images-cms-image-000004204Bhubaneswar, Oct 6 (PTI) The much awaited repair work of the Jagamohan (hall facing sanctum sanctorum) of the 12th century Sri Jagannath Temple at Puri will commence from the first week of December, a minister said today.

“The repair work to commence from December first week and will be completed within six months,” Odisha Law Minister Arun Kumar Sahoo said after reviewing the temple repair works

The meeting attended by chief administrator of Sri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), senior officials of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and Odisha’s Works department, resolved that the repair work would continue without displacing the deities from Ratna Singhasan (the sacred pandal).

During the work, the devotees cannot enter the Garva Gruha (sanctum sanctorum), but can have darshan of the deities from outside, the minister said adding that most of the major rituals of the day would be completed before 11 AM every day during the repair work.

The repair work was essential as cracks were spotted on the Jagamohan section of the main temple.

A team comprising Secretary of Works department, ASI officials and SJTA chief administrator will meet the Director General of ASI in the second week of October and discuss about the mending work, the minister said.

The officials of Works department and ASI would prepare a blue print for the proposed repair work, the minister said.

Source: Niti Central