'Ratna Bhandar' Of Lord Jagannath Temple In Puri To Reopen Tomorrow, First Time Since 1978

The Odisha government is preparing to unlock the Ratna Bhandar, the revered treasury of the Lord Jagannath temple in Puri, on Sunday (14 July) after a closure of 46 years for an inventory of the ornaments and other valuables.

The treasury, last opened in 1978, is overseen by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which maintains the 12th-century shrine.

The ASI will also use this opportunity to conduct necessary repairs, news agency PTI reported citing officials.

"We are fully prepared for the reopening of the Ratna Bhandar on Sunday. We will strictly adhere to the standard operating procedures (SOP) issued by the government in accordance with the Shree Jagannath Temple Act," Puri District Collector Siddharth Shankar Swain said, PTI reported.

The decision to reopen the treasury follows the recommendation of a 16-member high-level committee, chaired by retired Justice Biswanath Rath of Orissa High Court, which suggested 14 July for the event.

"Following traditional attire, we will first offer prayers to Lord Lokanath inside the temple," said Soumendra Muduli, a member of the special committee.

As a precaution, authorised personnel and a snake catcher will first enter the treasury, Muduli noted.

Haladhar Dasmohapatra, chief servitor of Lord Balabhadra, underscored the importance of reopening the treasury for necessary repairs due to its long-term closure.

Addressing rumours of a guardian snake inside the treasury, Dasmohapatra clarified that no such obstacle exists and urged people to approach the reopening with pure intentions.

He advised the government against weighing the valuables, suggesting instead a count and resealing of the items.

According to senior temple servitor, the Ratna Bhandar consists of three parts: the outer chamber holding ornaments used in rituals, the inner chamber housing non-utilised jewellery, and other precious items donated by kings and devotees over the centuries.

In 2018, then law minister Pratap Jena informed the state Assembly that the Ratna Bhandar contained over 12,831 bhari (one bhari equals 11.66 grams) of gold ornaments fitted with precious stones, along with 22,153 bhari of silver utensils and other items.

Also Read:India Has Potential To Become Second-Largest Economy By 2031, World's Largest By 2060: RBI Deputy Governor