Ratna Bhandar Jewellery Verification Restarts at Puri Srimandir

Puri: The long-awaited verification of Ratna Bhandar jewellery at Shree Jagannath Temple resumed on July 19, 2026, following a two-month pause since May 23.

The exercise coincides with the Rath Yatra, when the deities are at the Gundicha Temple, allowing ornaments normally in use to be documented.

A high-level meeting chaired by the Chief Administrator of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) finalised the operational plan.

The current phase focuses on ornaments used to adorn Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra, along with jewellery offered during Snana Purnima rituals.

Sacred ornaments such as Rahu Rekha Jhoba, Suna Chita, Rupa Rasika, and Suna Thanthia are being catalogued.

For the first time, high-precision 3D scanning is being employed to create detailed digital records, ensuring transparency and long-term preservation.

However, jewellery stored inside the inner Ratna Bhandar treasury will be verified later in a separate exercise.

Officials emphasised that the documentation aims to safeguard cultural heritage while modernising preservation practices.