The Ratna Bhandar of Jagannath temple in Puri, a renowned treasury of the 12th-century shrine, was reopened on Thursday for the second time in just a week. This reopening was important for relocating valuable items to a temporary strong room. The last time the Ratna Bhandar was opened was on July 14, after a long span of 46 years.
The Ratna Bhandar was unlocked at 9:51 am on Thursday. A supervisory committee, established by the Odisha government, conducted the process. Members of this committee entered the temple after offering their prayers. Justice Biswanath Rath, who is the chairmen of the committee and is a former Orissa High Court judge, states, “We sought the blessings of Lord Jagannath for smooth completion of shifting of all valuables stored inside the inner chamber of the treasury.”
On Sunday, the team found several almirahs, chests, and boxes in the inner chamber after opening three locks. These items, donated by devotees, are being moved to a temporary strong room. Justice Rath also invited Puri’s Titular king and Gajapati Maharaja Divya Singh Deb to supervise the shifting process.
The relocation of the valuables is vital for the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to conduct conservation work inside the inner chamber, take an inventory, and repair the chamber’s structure. Arabinda Padhee, chief of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), comments, “The ASI experts will also be given some time to take stock of its structural stability.”
Access Restrictions and Procedure for Shifting Valuables
Currently, only authorized personnel and a few staff members are allowed inside the temple during this process. The inner chambers will remain open until 12:15 pm on Thursday, and if the shifting is not wrapped by then, it will continue according to the standard operating procedure (SOP). Puri Collector Siddharth Shankar Swain mentioned, “If the shifting is not completed today, the work will continue as per the standard operating procedure (SOP).”
The entire shifting procedure is documented on video and is overseen by a high-level committee. Puri Superintendent of Police Pinak Mishra states, “All the aspects of the security are being taken care of. Whatever is being done, is being done according to the SOPs. SOPs were laid down very meticulously by the high-level committee.” Security measures include the presence of snake catchers, Odisha Rapid Action Force personnel, and fire services officials on standby for emergencies.
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