Puri: The silver casing work of Lion Gate (Singhadwara) — the main entrance of Puri Jagannath temple — has been completed ahead of the Nialdri Bije ritual.
Lord Jagannath and His siblings Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra will enter the Srimandir through the silver-cladded Singhadwar during the Niladri Bije ritual which will be held July 1.
Artisans from Mumbai have completed the work within the stipulated time period.
A devotee of Lord Jagannath from Mumbai had donated 500kg of silver for cladding purposes.
A four-inch-wide Burma teakwood has been tightened onto the steel frame. Afterwards, the door has been cladded with silver plates with designs and symbols like conch and lotus.
During the silver casing of Lion Gate, CCTV cameras were installed.
Previously, Satapahacha, Jaya Bijaya Dwara, Kalahata Dwara, Behara Dwara and Bhoga Mandapa were silver plated.
Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has also decided to clad the other three doors of Srimandir with silver in the coming days.
On the other hand, the Director General (DG) of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) Kishore Basa Thursday informed that the Garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum) of Srimandir is safe.
As per the officials, there is nothing to worry about the safety of Srimandir as Garbhagriha, Jagamohan and Natyamandap are completely safe.
The ASI officials asserted the safety of the Holy Shrine following the inspection of the aforementioned places under the pretext of restoration and rodent menace.
The inspection and silver-casing works were conducted on the temple premises from June 22 to June 28 in the absence of Lord Jagannath and His siblings during their annual nine-day long sojourn to Gundicha temple.
PNN