Lagatar24 Desk
Bhubaneswar: For the first time in over forty-five years, the Ratna Bhandar, the treasury of the Jagannath Temple, is set to be opened on Sunday for audit and inventory. This significant event will occur under the supervision of a 16-member committee led by retired High Court judge Biswanath Rath, including members from the snake helpline and a team of doctors to ensure safety.
The committee is still finalizing the standard operating procedures for this delicate process, with special attention to potential hazards such as the presence of snakes. “We will have snake helpline members on standby and ensure adequate lighting for a clear view of the valuables,” said a committee member. He also highlighted the potential for rainwater seepage affecting the condition of wooden boxes storing the valuables.
In preparation, the committee members have adhered to a vegetarian diet for over a week and will don traditional attire similar to the temple servitors. The deity Lord Lokanath, considered the presiding deity of the treasury, will be worshipped before the committee enters the Ratna Bhandar.
Justice (retired) Rath explained that goldsmiths and meteorologists would be called to identify and assess the condition of the ornaments. “The temple management has designated an area within the temple for shifting and counting the ornaments. We will document the type, character, and nature of the gems, and the entire process will be digitally catalogued and videographed,” he said.
Despite the opening of the Ratna Bhandar, devotees will still be able to visit the temple, although viewing the Lord might be limited during this period. The Ratna Bhandar, located near the Jagamohana of the temple, comprises two chambers: Bahara Bhandar (outer chamber) and Bhitara Bhandar (inner chamber), with the latter being significantly larger.
The Ratna Bhandar has a rich history of treasures donated by kings of Odisha and rulers of Nepal over centuries. The first official account in 1805 by Puri’s then-Collector Charles Grome documented numerous gold and silver ornaments, coins, and clothes. The 1978 inventory found 454 gold articles weighing 128.380 kg and 293 silver articles weighing 221.530 kg. Subsequent openings in the early 1980s were limited to extracting materials for temple repairs, with no detailed audits conducted.
The upcoming inventory, driven by the promises made during recent elections and the BJP’s emphasis on ‘Odia Asmita’ (Odia pride), aims to bring transparency and ensure the preservation of these priceless artifacts.
