According to the Paschim Maharashtra Devasthan Committee (PDMS) the work will take at least two weeks. Due to this the devotees won't be able to worship the idol until August 6, the PMDS added.
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) begins the chemical conservation of Mahalaxmi idol from Wednesday. The ASI will inject chemcials into the idol to slower the decaying process. According to the Paschim Maharashtra Devasthan Committee (PDMS) the work will take at least two weeks. Due to this the devotees won't be able to worship the idol until August 6, the PMDS added.
Devotees will be able to worship the festive idol and they will be given access to it during outdoor festivals of the Mahalaxmi.
The conservation process is a second one in the last 60 years after the one that was done in 1955. The method used for the chemical coating, called the 'Vajralep', which was applied to the idol. The conservation process uses chemicals made from porous stone which will be injected into the idol to fill in the cracks.
The Mahalaxmi idol is said to belong to the 8th century. Madhav Munishwar, the temple's senior priest said that the process will preserve the idol for many years to come. "The earlier Vajralep did not last long. It was impossible for the idol to sustain another coating and chemical conservation was the only option left to conserve the idol. In the last two decades, we have been convincing the PMDS for chemical conservation and we are happy that it is finally coming true," he said.
The cost of the conservation process, which is Rs 1.34 lakh, will be borne by the PMDS. The priests will take up the cost of religious rituals before, during and after the conservation. Shree Karvir Nivasini Ambabai Hakkadar Shripujak Mandal, an association of priests will hold many religious activities from July 22 and August 6.
The idol is two feet wide and nine inches tall. It is made of ingenious rock of basaltic textures.
As per the scientific report compiled by the Pune-based Institute of Research and Development in Oriental Studies (IRDOS), the hard and compact idol is fine to medium grained and nearly equigranular.
The conservation was being discussed for the last 20 years. The PDMS and the priests had different views about it. While the priests opposed the 'Vajralep' method. They even filed a case against the state-appointed Vajralep committee in 2002. The state government, The matter was resolved in 2015 after a mediator was appointed and the PMDS and priests agreed to go for the chemical conservation process.
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