After 46 years, the Ratna Bhandar, the treasury of the 12th-century Jagannath temple in Odisha’s Puri, was reopened on Sunday afternoon. An 11-member committee established by the Odisha government entered the revered treasury. The team included former Orissa High Court 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.’ The reopening was preceded by the ritual of ‘Agnya,’ seeking approval for the process, completed in the morning.
The Ratna Bhandar houses precious ornaments of the deities Jagannath, Subhadra, and Balabhadra, donated by devotees and kings over the centuries. It consists of an outer chamber (Bahara Bhandar) and an inner chamber (Bhitara Bhandar). While the outer chamber is occasionally opened for rituals like the Suna Besha during the annual Rath Yatra, the last inventory of the treasury was conducted in 1978.
To address potential hazards, two teams of snake catchers were present at the temple. Ahead of the reopening, the committee established three Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to guide the process. According to an official, these SOPs cover the reopening of the Ratna Bhandar, management of a temporary Ratna Bhandar, and inventory of the valuables.
The inventory work will begin only after receiving government approval for the engagement of valuers, goldsmiths, and other experts. Additionally, the government plans to create a digital catalogue detailing the weight and make of the valuables in the Ratna Bhandar.
