Puri: The counting and inventory of priceless ornaments and valuables in the outer chamber of Ratna Bhandar of Shree Jagannath Temple in Odisha’s Puri is underway under stringent security and transparency protocols.
The process, which initially began on March 25 after 48 years for movable treasures in the Chalanti Bhandar, resumed on Wednesday following a government-approved Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) in the presence of a magistrate. It focuses on meticulously documenting the ornaments housed in the outer treasury, many of which are used to adorn the deities during Suna Besha and Rath Yatra.
The Process
According to sources, authorised members, including newly inducted ones, gathered at the temple office meeting hall. Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Chief Administrator Arabinda Padhee briefed them on the need for absolute confidentiality. All participants signed declarations pledging secrecy before proceeding.
Led by Padhee and Justice Biswanath Rath, chairman of the high-level Ratna Bhandar committee, the team, including Puri Collector Dibyajyoti Parida, SP Prateek Singh, senior officials, Chhatisa Nijog representatives, servitors, and support staff, entered the temple premises around 10:50 AM. They changed into traditional attire (dhoti and gamchha), avoided metallic items, and offered prayers at the shrines of Goddess Bimala, Bhubaneswari, Bedha Kali, and Goddess Lakshmi. Everyone passed through a metal detector near the Beherana Door before entry.
The outer Ratna Bhandar was opened at 11:55 am in the magistrate’s presence. Jewellers, gemologists, and weighing experts then carefully examined, counted, weighed, photographed, videographed, and documented the items in a digital E-Catalogue, with additional 3D mapping for transparency. The process mirrored the disciplined approach of the first phase and cross-verified items against the 1978 inventory. Upon completion, the chamber was closed and sealed under magisterial supervision, with data chips secured in a strong room.
The second phase of the inventory will continue till April 11, resume again on April 13, and thereafter from April 16 to 18. Further counting will be scheduled in consultation with the temple managing committee and Chhatisa Nijog, taking into account the time available during the upcoming Chandan Yatra.
While the government is planning to complete the process by Debasnana Purnima festival on June 29, Puri king and chairman of Jagannath Temple managing committee, Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb, who visited the temple to review the ongoing counting and verification process, emphasised that no rigid deadline should be imposed on the ongoing inventory. “They should be given sufficient time to ensure accuracy and uphold the highest standards. The inventorisation must be meticulous and scientifically sound,” he said.
The last inventory, conducted between May 13 and July 23, 1978, spanned 72 days.
According to the 1978 records, the outer chamber then contained 87 gold items weighing 8,474 bharis and 62 silver items weighing 7,274 bharis, while inner chamber had 367 gold ornaments, including necklaces, chains, and crowns, totalling 4,364 bharis, along with 231 silver items weighing 14,878 bharis.
