Bhubaneswar:

Authorities at the Puri Jagannath Temple on Tuesday called for immediate repairs after cracks were discovered in the temple’s outer boundary wall, known as the Meghannath Prachari.

Arabinda K Padhee, Chief Administrator of the Jagannath Temple in Puri, addressed concerns about cracks in the temple’s outer boundary wall. Padhee revealed that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has been tasked with the restoration and conservation efforts.

He said, “The Archaeological Survey of India has been taking the restoration and repair and conservation works of the Sri Jagannath temple in Puri. And over the last few months, we have noticed a few cracks in the Meghannath Prachari, the outer wall of the Sri Jagannath temple.”

Padhee also underlined that the temple administration has requested urgent repairs and restoration from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). He added, “From the Sri Jagannath temple administration side, the technical team of our administration, we have already noticed the cracks and we have already taken some original repair works.” He mentioned that they have corrected the crevices and removed moss and algae from affected areas, as well as worked to prevent water seepage.

Padhee also noted a drainage issue from the Ananda Bajar site, which the temple administration is addressing. He assured full support to the ASI in their repair efforts, requesting a comprehensive and scientific survey of the Meghannath Kachari for long-term solutions. He stated, “The structural safety and integrity of the temple structure is of paramount importance to the temple administration.”

Earlier in the day, Jagandas Mohapatra, a priest at the Lord Jagannath Temple, also said, “This temple is one of the oldest temples. There are some cracks in the boundary wall. We’ve requested ASI to restore it as soon as possible.”
 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Bhubaneswar:

The Odisha government on Friday said it has decided to introduce a quality check mechanism for ‘Mahaprasad’ and ghee being used at the Jagannath temple in Puri.

The Odisha government’s decision came after a major row that erupted following Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s claims of low-quality ghee and alleged presence of animal fat in the laddoos made and distributed at the Tirupati Lord Balaji temple.

Odisha’s Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan said a food inspector will be appointed at the 12th-century shrine, who will check the quality of materials being used for the preparation of the ‘Mahaprasad’.

All the articles will undergo a quality check before going to the Roshasala temple kitchen and after offering the Mahaprasad to deities, Harichandan said.

“Not only ghee, we will examine the quality of other ingredients being used in the preparation of Mahaprasad,” the law minister told reporters here.

The Puri Jagannath temple is under the state government’s law department.

Stating that there has been no complaint regarding the quality of Mahaprasad and other materials so far, Harichandran said the initiative was taken to avoid any controversy in future and maintain the purity of the Mahaprasad.

The minister also said that 20 ex-army men have been deployed at the ‘Ananda Bazaar’ (food court) to ensure that no stale Mahaparasad is sold to the devotees.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

A view of Shree Jagannath temple in Odisha’s Puri. File
| Photo Credit: The Hindu

“The Odisha government will unlock the ‘Ratna Bhandar’, the revered treasury of the 12th-century Jagannath temple in Puri, on July 14 after 46 years for an inventory of the valuables and the repair of the structure,” an official said. The treasury was last opened in 1978.

“The Ratna Bhandar of the Jagannath temple will be opened today at 1.28 p.m.,” said Justice Biswanath Rath, the chairman of the committee formed by the State government to supervise the inventory of valuables in the treasury. “The decision was taken at a meeting of the committee held in Puri,” he said.

“Members of the committee, including Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) chief administrator Arabinda Padhee, will visit the treasury after the reopening,” he added. “The place where the valuables will be kept temporarily has also been identified,” said the former Orissa High Court judge.

“The ritual of ‘Agnya’, in which approval is sought for the reopening of the Ratna Bhandar, was completed in the morning. The members of the committee will enter the shrine at 12 p.m. in traditional attire for the reopening,” said C.B.K. Mohanty, another member of the committee.

“Before reopening the treasury, we will seek the approval of Goddess Bimala, Goddess Laxmi, who is the owner of the treasury, and lastly seek the approval of Lord Lokanath, who is its caretaker,” Justice Rath said.

In the morning, Justice Rath and Mr. Padhee offered prayers before Lord Jagannath and his siblings at the Gundicha temple for the smooth completion of the works. “Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) have been made for the entire process,” Mr. Padhee said.

“Three SOPs have been made. One is related to the reopening of the Ratna Bhandar, the second for the management of the temporary Ratna Bhandar, and the third one is related to inventory of the valuables,” he said.

“The inventory work will not start today. It will be done after getting approval from the government on the engagement of valuers, goldsmiths and other experts,” he added.

“The government has decided to prepare a digital catalogue of the valuables in the Ratna Bhandar that will have details such as their weight and make,” another official said.

Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) Superintendent DB Gadanayak said structural engineers, mechanical engineers and civil engineers will inspect the Ratna Bhandar for the repair work.

Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) personnel were seen entering the temple premises with lights that will be installed inside the Ratna Bhandar. It is also apprehended that there are snakes inside the treasury.

Snake Helpline member Subhendu Mallick said, “We have come here on the instruction of the State government. There will be two teams of snake catchers — one inside and another outside the temple. We will follow all instructions of the administration.”