Puri Jagannath Temple Ratna Bhandar Inventory Temporarily Halted, To Resume in June

The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has announced a temporary suspension of the ongoing inventory of the Ratna Bhandar, the temple’s revered treasure vault.

The decision comes in light of the prevailing heatwave conditions, the heavy influx of devotees, and preparations for major upcoming rituals, including Snana Purnima and the Rath Jatra.

The inventory process, which began on March 25, resumed briefly on May 11 after a pause during Chandana Jatra.

So far, the committee has logged 57 hours and 8 minutes of counting, documenting over 120 ornaments—approximately 20% of the total work.

The exercise is being conducted under a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) with participation from servitors, temple officials, gemologists, bank staff, and representatives of the Reserve Bank of India.

Each ornament is weighed, identified, digitally documented, and securely packed in colour‑coded containers to ensure preservation.

SJTA officials confirmed that the process will resume in June, following consultations with the Chhattisa Nijog and other stakeholders.