After 46 years, government officials and servitors who opened the Ratna Bhandar of the Jagannath Temple on Sunday discovered several antique idols crafted from precious metals in the treasury’s inner chamber. These newly found idols were not listed in any previous inventories. Biswanath Rath, chairman of the 11-member committee set up to oversee the inventory of Ratna Bhandar, mentioned that these ancient small idols, numbering between five and seven, had turned almost black over the past four decades. The team did not touch them but immediately lit a diya and worshipped the idols. These idols are set to be shifted to a temporary strongroom on Thursday, and details regarding their weight and make will be determined only after a thorough inventory.
The servitors believe that these idols were once worshipped by the Bhandar mekaps, or treasury caretakers, long ago. The team members admitted to being unaware of the specific types of valuables stored in the chests and almirahs within the inner chamber. There is widespread speculation about the contents of the inner chamber, with many believing it contains various precious items such as gold crowns, gold and tiger claws, golden wreaths, gold wheels, gold flowers, gold mohar (coins), lockets, silver thrones, bracelets, necklaces adorned with diamonds and pearls, and a gold-studded Mayur Chandrika, among other treasures.
Durga Prasad Dasmohapatra, a servitor who was part of the team that entered the Ratna Bhandar, noted that they found only gold and silver articles within the outer chamber, which is opened for the use of deities during annual festivals. The contents of the boxes in the inner chamber remain unknown, adding to the mystery and intrigue surrounding the Ratna Bhandar.
