Puri, Jun 28: The repair work on the Ratna Bhandar, the sacred treasure chamber of the Shree Jagannath Temple, will resume from today, informed the state Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan.

With a focused plan to complete the restoration within eight days, the minister stated that the outer Ratna Bhandar will undergo structural repairs starting today, with nearly 90 damaged stones expected to be replaced.

The work will be carried out in two daily shifts by a team of experts, ensuring minimal disruption to temple activities during the ongoing Rath Yatra, when the deities are away at the Gundicha Temple.

A key highlight of the restoration includes plans to gild the outer chamber’s door with gold plating, supported by Burmese teakwood reinforcement for enhanced durability and aesthetics. Discussions between the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) and officials from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) have finalized the technical roadmap for the repairs.

Minister also emphasised that the restoration is not only a matter of structural integrity but also of spiritual and cultural significance, as the Ratna Bhandar houses invaluable treasures and symbolises the sanctity of the 12th-century shrine.

Once the repairs are complete, the inventory and valuation of the Ratna Bhandar’s contents will begin, followed by the transfer of sacred chests from the temporary treasury back to their original chamber.

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