Editor’s Note
The Archaeological Survey of India has completed its second technical survey of the Jagannath Temple’s treasure chamber, focusing on the potential existence of hidden chambers or tunnels. This follows an initial survey conducted in September.
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has completed the second round of the technical survey of the Ratna Bhandar (treasure trove) at the Jagannath Temple in Puri. The first round was conducted on September 18. The second round, aimed at surveying whether there is any secret chamber or tunnel inside the Ratna Bhandar, was completed a day ahead of the scheduled time.
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) completed the technical survey of the Ratna Bhandar at the Jagannath Temple in Puri on Sunday. Arabinda Padhi, the chief administrator of the Shri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), stated that the survey to determine the presence of any secret chamber or tunnel inside the Ratna Bhandar was completed ahead of schedule.
He informed that the SJTA had barred devotees from having darshan of Lord Jagannath from 1 PM to 6 PM during the survey of the Ratna Bhandar.
He said the findings of the survey can be known from the ASI report.
The SJTA chief administrator said that after the conservation work by the ASI is complete, an inventory of all precious items and ornaments stored inside the Ratna Bhandar will be prepared. The technical team also included experts from the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI), Hyderabad. Justice Vishwanath Rath, chairman of the Ratna Bhandar inventory committee, entered the temple to participate in the survey.
Meanwhile, senior scientist Anand Kumar Pandey from NGRI told the media:
The first round of the survey was conducted on September 18. A 17-member technical team led by ASI’s Additional Director General J. Sharma conducted a preliminary inspection and ‘laser scanning’ of the Ratna Bhandar in the presence of Padhi and Justice Rath. On September 18, the SJTA had written a letter to the ASI requesting the completion of the technical survey by September 24, in view of the special rituals of Lord Jagannath during Dussehra and the month of Kartik.
Durga Puja rituals in the temple will begin on September 24. An official said the temple administration has transferred all precious items and ornaments from the outer and inner chambers of the Ratna Bhandar. They have been stored in a temporary chamber within the temple premises. He said all activities are being carried out as per the state government’s standard operating procedure.