Odisha government unlocked the revered ‘Ratna Bhandar’ of the 12th-century Jagannath temple in Puri after 46 years on Sunday

The Odisha government unlocked the revered ‘Ratna Bhandar’ of the 12th-century Jagannath temple in Puri after 46 years on Sunday, marking the beginning of an extensive inventory process. The treasury, which houses invaluable ornaments and other valuables, was unlocked at 1:28 pm during the auspicious ‘Suba Bela’ (good time).

Puri Jagannath temple has long been central to both the state’s religious identity and its politics, making this event highly significant. In preparation for the reopening, special boxes were brought to the temple to shift the valuables to a temporary strong room.

Among the 11 people who entered the temple to reopen its revered treasury were former Orissa HC judge Biswanath Rath, Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) chief administrator Arabinda Padhee, ASI Superintendent DB Gadanayak, and a representative of Puri’s titular king ‘Gajapati Maharaja. This process was greenlit by a high-level committee led by former Orissa High Court judge Justice Biswanath Rath. After receiving government approval, standard operating procedures (SOPs) were established to guide the inventory.

The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), led by its chief administrator, is overseeing the operation. “Three SOPs have been made. One is related to the reopening of the Ratna Bhandar, the second for the management of the temporary Ratna Bhandar, and the third one is related to inventory of the valuables,” said SJTA chief administrator Arabinda Padhee.

The inventory work will commence after getting approval from the government on the engagement of valuers, goldsmiths, and other experts. To ensure transparency, representatives from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) are present to support the inventory team.

Odisha law minister Prithviraj Harichandan mentioned that the digital photography of the ornaments will be done to create a digital catalog of the valuables. This can be used as a reference document in the future. An expert team, including representatives from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), temple servitors, the managing committee, and a high-power committee, was formed to inspect the Ratna Bhandar.

The lock of the Ratna Bhandar was broken as the duplicate key could not be found. Harichandan assured that neither the rituals nor public darshan would be affected by carrying out the work.

He further highlighted that the previous BJD government did not open the Ratna Bhandar during its 24-year rule. The BJP government, within a month of coming to power, decided to open it, leaving it to Lord Jagannath for the smooth completion of the process.