Ratna Bhandar Opens After 48 Years: Historic Inventory Begins in Puri

Puri, Odisha: After nearly five decades, the sacred Ratna Bhandar of Shree Jagannath Temple is being inventoried today under unprecedented security and ritual safeguards.

The exercise, last conducted in 1978, marks a historic moment for devotees and administrators alike.

Preparations concluded late last night, with the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) implementing a Standard Operating Procedure to ensure temple rituals and darshan continue without disruption.

Entry into the treasury has been restricted to authorised servitors, jewellers, gemologists, and officials from the Reserve Bank of India.

The process begins with the movable ornaments stored in the outer chamber (Bahar Bhandar). Each item will be identified, weighed, and matched against the 1978 records.

Digital photography and videography will document the proceedings, while gold, silver, and other ornaments will be carefully wrapped and stored in six specially prepared boxes.

SJTA Chief Administrator Dr Arabinda Kumar Padhee has appealed for cooperation, calling the exercise a sacred duty.

For security reasons, darshan from the inner courtyard (Bhitar Katha) has been temporarily suspended, with devotees restricted to the outer courtyard (Bahar Katha).

This landmark inventory balances tradition, transparency, and security, reaffirming the temple’s cultural and spiritual significance.