Puri: After more than four decades, the ‘Ratna Bhandar’ (treasure trove) of the Shri Jagannath Temple in Puri was reopened on Sunday, following the Odisha government’s Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
The Odisha government approved the opening on Saturday after an inventory of the valuables, including pieces of jewellery stored in the Ratna Bhandar. The Chief Minister’s office marked the occasion with a message on X, celebrating the event’s significance.
Special boxes were brought to the temple ahead of the reopening. According to Sri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Chief Arabinda Padhee, authorised representatives from various groups, officials from the ASI, and representatives of Shri Gajapati Maharaj were present. The entire process was video recorded for documentation.
Padhee outlined the three-step SOP for the opening and inventory of the Ratna Bhandar. The first step involved opening the outer Ratna Bhandar, followed by a set of guidelines for the inner Ratna Bhandar, and finally, transferring valuables to a temporary strong room for inventory.
The precise reopening time was set for 1:28 pm on Sunday, as decided by the Inspection Committee Chairman Justice Biswanath Rath in consultation with temple priests. The process is challenging due to the unknown condition of the Ratna Bhandar, last opened in 1985.
Odisha Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan stated that the inventory would include a representative from the Reserve Bank of India, and a digital catalogue would be created with photographs, weight, and quality details of the ornaments. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), responsible for maintaining the 12th-century shrine, will undertake repair works in the Ratna Bhandar.