Puri, July 4: Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb, along with Chief Administrator Aravind Padhee and senior ASI officials, reviewed the ongoing repair work of the Ratna Bhandar (treasure chamber) of the Jagannath Temple. The restoration began after the Bahuda Yatra and is expected to be completed before Niladri Bije on July 8.
So far, over 600 sandstone blocks have been replaced. The outer Ratna Bhandar door, previously made of old wood, has been widened to accommodate a newly built secure treasury chest (sinduka) for storing the temple’s valuables. A Burma teak wooden door will be installed, and stainless steel beams have been used for reinforcement.
Gajapati Maharaja expressed hope that, with Lord Jagannath’s blessings, the work would be completed on time. However, officials indicated that the timeline remains uncertain due to the technical complexities involved.
The inner Ratna Bhandar repairs are nearly complete, while chemical cleaning and final finishing touches on the outer chamber are ongoing. Silver and gold plating of the doors will follow in the next phase. A stainless steel mesh is also being installed in sensitive areas for additional protection.
Notably, the Ratna Bhandar was last opened on July 14, 2024, and repairs began in December 2024. Work was paused during key rituals but resumed after Lord Jagannath temporarily vacated the sanctum.
ASI’s superintendent archaeologist D.B. Garnayak confirmed that all major tasks are on track and expressed confidence that the restoration would be finished within the next few days.