Latest news with #ChandanYatra
Time of India
03-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Ratna Bhandar repair likely to get over by Niladri Bije
1 2 Bhubaneswar: Nearly 600 new khondalite stones and 15 steel beams have been used for the ongoing repair of Ratna Bhandar, according to Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA). The conservation measures, which commenced on Dec 17, 2024, are expected to conclude by Niladri Bije on July 8. Puri's titular king and Lord Jagannath's principal servitor Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb inspected the work progress on Thursday and expressed contentment with the restoration results. "Ratna Bhandar, which was in urgent need of repair, is completely safe now. It looks beautiful now. The ASI has replaced about 600 stones. Damaged wrought iron beams have been replaced with stainless steel ones. Inventory of the jewellery of the deities will be carried out by the govt soon," Deb told reporters after his inspection. The ASI sources indicated that black granite stones have replaced the deteriorated floor in both inner and outer chambers of Ratna Bhandar. Arabinda Kumar Padhee, chief administrator of the SJTA, indicated that silver cladding will be applied to the new wooden doors of the Ratna Bhandar. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo "There is a need to preserve the old stones and other ancient construction materials that have been removed," said renowned sand sculptor Sudarsan Patnaik, who is also a member of the 16-member Ratna Bhandar supervisory committee. The restoration efforts, which halted during the Chandan Yatra from April 29, recommenced on June 28, following the Rath Yatra when the deities visit Gundicha temple. The sibling deities will return to the sanctum sanctorum during Niladri Bije on July 8. "The ASI has also carried out necessary conservation of the sanctum sanctorum ahead of the deities' return," Padhee said.
Time of India
24-06-2025
- Time of India
Puri Rath Yatra 2025: Indian Railways announces 365 special trains for devotees
Indian Railways has announced to run 365 special trains for devotees wishing to to be a part of the revered annual Rath Yatra festival in Puri, Odisha. The preparations for the Puri Rath Yatra are in full swing and to manage the surge of pilgrims, the railways has decided to run these special trains. The trains will connect the holy city of Puri with all prime states including West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, and Jharkhand, among others. The main motive behind this move is to accommodate thousands and lakhs of devotees who will visit the city to be a part of the grand procession of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra. These special trains will operate under the East Coast Railway (ECoR) zone. State Government initiatives In addition, the Odisha government has inaugurated many other initiatives to ensure smooth run of the nine-day festival. One of the prime features include the INR 5 lakh insurance cover for each registered devotee within Puri municipality along with those who participated in earlier rituals like the Chandan Yatra. This welfare scheme is part of a broader package to improve safety and comfort of the pilgrims. The government is expecting a crowd of more than five lakh devotees. The state is planning to deploy 70 police platoons, anti-terrorist squads and bomb disposal teams. There will also be special tactical units and drones for aerial surveillance. All the major regions will have AI-powered CCTV cameras and police have also introduced community outreach programs in local neighborhoods (sahis) to help with the traffic. When it comes to healthcare, more than 300 doctors and emergency health teams will be stationed at all strategic points in and around the temple town. Temporary hospitals, ambulances, and mobile medical units will ensure rapid response during any emergencies. About the revered chariot The process of chariot construction began in April on the auspicious day of Akshaya Tritiya. Rare trees such as phassi and dhausa were used to build chariots, and by the start of June, more than 80% of the work was completed. The chariots—Nandighosa, Taladhwaja, and Darpadalana—are built every year by temple carpenters. It is a centuries-old ritual. Date of the event The main event, Rath Yatra will start on June 27, 2025. It is the day when all the deities will be taken out from the Jagannath Temple and will be carried to the Gundicha Temple, which is about 3 km away. With the introduction of new special trains, the railways hope to efficiently manage the event by making it widely accessible. One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
Time of India
25-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Ratna Bhandar restoration to be over by July 8: Minister
1 2 Bhubaneswar: Govt has set a deadline to finish restoration work of Jagannath Temple's Ratna Bhandar (treasury) by Neeladri Bije, to be celebrated on July 8, marking the end of this year's Rath Yatra. The repair work, which commenced on Dec 17, 2024, has been on hold at present due to Chandan Yatra. Sources said work is set to resume on June 28, a day after Rath Yatra when the deities will be at Gundicha temple. The sibling deities will return to the sanctum sanctorum on July 8. "Restoration work is on hold since April 29 to facilitate the smooth conduct of Chandan Yatra. The ASI will resume and expedite the work after the deities' departure from the Jagannath Temple's garbha gruha (sanctum sanctorum) on Rath Yatra on June 27. We expect that the work will be over by Neeladri Bije," law minister Prithiviraj Harichandan said on Sunday. ASI officials intend to work 7-8 hours daily while the deities are away. "Previously, we were restricted to a maximum of two hours of repair work every day to accommodate the deities' daily rituals," an ASI functionary said. Between Dec 17, 2024 and April 28, 2025, the ASI completed about 200 hours of repair work on the Ratna Bhandar, which was reopened by the govt on July 14, 2024, after 46 years, for urgent restoration. The minister indicated that the restoration is progressing systematically to ensure the structure remains stable for the next hundred years. ASI reports indicate work on the inner chamber is nearly over, with floor renovation pending. The damaged flooring will be replaced with Khondalite stone. Five damaged inner chamber beams have been substituted with stainless steel alternatives. Work on the outer chamber is nearing completion, including replacement of damaged stone and exterior repairs.
New Indian Express
17-05-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
SJTA, ASI draw Rath Yatra plan for Srimandir repairs
BHUBANESWAR: Along with Ratna Bhandar, the Garbha Gruha or sanctum sanctorum of the Shree Jagannath temple in Puri will be taken up for repair and renovation during the Rath Yatra, when the Trinity will be away at Gundicha temple. The pending repair works for the Ratna Bhandar, which are currently suspended due to Chandan Yatra and other rituals, will resume from June 28 and continue till July 6. This decision was taken during a review meeting of the technical advisory committee of Srimandir and Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on conservation works of Ratna Bhandar and Garbha Gruha. This year, Rath Yatra will be celebrated on June 27 and Niladri Bije on July 8. Chief administrator of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Arabinda Padhee said, 'The ASI has been asked to complete the chemical washing and scientific conservation of outer parts of Ratna Bhandar in seven to 10 days. While five damaged beams in the Bhitara Bhandar have been replaced with stainless steel beams, four to five beams in the Bahara Ratna Bhandar will also be replaced with stainless steel box beams.'
Time of India
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
NGT asks chief secy to probe ‘security lapse' in cracker blast at Puri yatra
1 2 Cuttack: National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the chief secretary "to institute an inquiry" into the "grave security lapse" that led to the firecracker explosion killing 17 people and injuring 25 severely during Chandan Yatra in Puri on May 29 last the order uploaded on Thursday, NGT's east zone bench further directed the chief secretary to "take appropriate action against those found guilty of gross negligence and lapse in taking proper security steps to prevent the occurrence of the incident in question".The bench comprising Justice B Amit Sthalekar (judicial member) and Dr Vijay Kulkarni (expert member) said, "For future, it is directed that no explosives of any kind shall be permitted in such religious functions where the swell of the crowd is not just in thousands but in several lakhs and even a small lapse can result in loss of lives of lakhs of people. One cannot rule out that such an incident can even be triggered by ill-intentioned and anti-social elements using more lethal explosives other than mere firecrackers."NGT was hearing a petition filed by Sanjay Kumar Nayak (46), a resident of Aska in Ganjam district, seeking direction to the authorities to take steps to prohibit bursting of crackers during the rituals of Lord Jagannath in Puri. Advocates Sankar Prasad Pani and Ashutosh Padhy appeared in virtual mode on the petitioner's ordering the probe, the bench said it was evident from the Puri collector's affidavit that no one noticed crackers being taken in a trolley and stacked at Dasa Tutha on the north-west corner of the Narendra Pokhari without permission from the competent authority. During Chandan Yatra on May 29, 2024, a cracker after being ignited hit the stack of crackers kept at Dasa Tutha, which led to all the crackers getting lit and causing a huge explosion."This clearly shows that there was gross dereliction of duty on the part of the district administration including the police authorities," the bench observed, adding, "The district administration and the police administration cannot be absolved of their negligence in such a grave security lapse." "In the instant case, it was stacking of firecrackers but one cannot rule out the possibility that it could have been something even more lethal resulting in a massive explosion causing extensive damage to the Lord Jagannath temple itself and loss of human life on a large scale," the bench also observed, while disposing of the petition."That apart, it cannot be ruled out that some offensive material could have been loaded on the trolley rickshaw and carried in the midst of the Chandan Yatra so as to offend the sensibilities of the devotees and thereby create a riotous situation," the bench said. It questioned why the district and police administrations didn't anticipate such an eventuality."The police swinging into action after the occurrence of the incident does not explain the lethargy and total inactivity and the requirement to be vigilant at all times particularly on the occasion of religious functions," the bench observed.
