Skilled artisans from Cuttack and Puri completed restoration work of the fragile Kalas Chakra of the Jagamohan of the Shree Jagannath Temple here on Thursday. The restoration work was undertaken under the supervision of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
This Chakra made of Astadhatu (an alloy of eight metals often used for casting metallic idols in Jain and Hindu temples in India) had weakened due to the loosening of the bolts attached to it.
Especially, stress was laid on strengthening the staff fixed to the main part of the Kalas, which has weakened.
Notably, the Kalas atop the Jagamohan had been replaced in 2014 during the Nabakalebar. But the Chakra was not replaced; only some nuts and bolts were replaced.
However, the weakening of the Chakra within two years of its repair has raised serious concern over the quality of the work undertaken then.