Laser Scanning of Shree Jagannath Temple Except Sanctum Sanctorum From July 13

Puri: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) will carry out the laser scanning at the Shree Jagannatha Temple in Puri, a day after the Rath Yatra on July 13. However, the laser scanning won’t be carried out inside the ‘garbha gruha’ (sanctum sanctorum). 

Chief Administrator of the Shree Jagannatha Temple Administration (SJTA), Krishan Kumar informed on Sunday.

Kumar added that ASI had requested the temple administration for a laser scanning of the temple. After discussing with stakeholders, it was decided to allow the ASI to conduct laser scanning at Natya Mandap, Jagamohan and other parts of the temple.

After analyzing the benefits of the laser scanning, the temple administration will consider allowing the ASI to carry out the process inside the sanctum sanctorum from next year, the SJTA Chief Administrator added.

“It would take three to four days to complete the laser scanning of the temple,” said Arun Malik, Superintending Archaeologist of ASI, Bhubaneswar Circle. 

Sharing about the benefit of the laser scanning, Malik said, “It would help us to get point cloud data which would be used to get accurate measurement, dimension of the monument and damages. The process helps us to do accurate documentation of the heritage structure. This technique is used all over the world to document various heritage monuments.”

The data would be used for the condition mapping of the monument, which would help to know about the present condition of the structure. The data would be helpful during the future restoration and conservation work of the temple.

Laser scanning of Konark Temple was done in 2020. Rani ka Bhav in Gujarat, Sun Temple in Modhera (Gujarat), Menal in Rajasthan are some of the other monuments in the country where it has been done.

This apart,  ASI would also carry out other maintenance work of the temple during the Rath Yatra.

The ASI will also start the facade lights installation of the temple. “The temple administration has approved for the facade lights installation and we will start the work soon. It will take around one month to finish the work,” he informed.