8-inch crack on Lingaraj temple crest found

BHUBANESWAR: Eight-inch crack was found on the Dadhi Nauti (crest) of the Lingaraj temple, confirmed the technical expert team of Archeological Survey of India (ASI) here on Saturday. The north side of the crest has the crack, said the team members.

After the inspection, the ASI expert team found that the crest has eight inch crack. Explaining the reason of the crack, the ASI team member AK Patel said that the heat of the flames of Deep expands the crest and squeezes in the winter time and the frequent thermal expansion creates crack, he added.

According to head of the ASI technical expert team Gopal Mitra, they are discussing on the matter as it poses threat to the crest of the century-old heritage temple in the city. The team members are planning to replace a strong metal which can bear the heat, Mitra added.

The team would place a new crest on the top of the temple replacing the original and the original crest would be given for repairing. After the repairing, that could be set in the temple again, informed the Lingaraj Temple Administration officials sources.      

It may be noted that on June 15 this year, the Dadhi Nauti of Mairigiria temple, inside the Lingaraj temple premises fell down as lightning struck the temple.