Bhubaneswar: Inventory of valuables of the Ratna Bhandar of Shree Jagannath Temple in Odisha’s Puri is likely to be taken up in January, 2026.
The process of listing and counting of the Ratna Bhandar valuables is to be undertaken as the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has already completed the repair work in both the inner and outer chambers of the treasury of Lord Jagannath and siblings.
According to former Orissa High Court judge Biswanath Rath, who is the chairman of the 16-member committee overseeing the inventory, an important meeting with the Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee is scheduled to be held on December 27.
During the meeting, the committee will finalise the standard operating procedures (SOP) for the inventory and fix the dates for counting the Lords’ ornaments and jewels, he said.
All valuables, which had been temporarily shifted to a strongroom inside the temple complex during the repair work by the ASI, have already returned to the Ratna Bhandar.
“Now that the repair work is complete, the treasures have been restored to their original chambers. The counting will take place over two days to ensure accuracy and proper handling,” he said.
The committee will submit the finalised dates to the Managing Committee, which will then send resolutions to the Odisha government for approval. Rath also noted that devotees’ darshan may be affected during the inventory and requested their cooperation.
“I think the counting of valuables should start from January 2026,” Justice (Retd) Rath added.
