Puri: The long-awaited inventory of the Ratna Bhandar of the Shree Jagannath Temple in Odisha’s Puri is proposed to be conducted three phases and completed much before the Rath Yatra 2026.
Sharing this information on Sunday, Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan said the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for counting and listing of the valuables of the deities, which is almost final, was discussed in detail at a high-level committee meeting.
Stating that the committee will soon submit the SOP to the state government for approval, he said the inventory process will commence after necessary approval.
It has been decided that proper steps would be taken to ensure that the counting exercise is conducted in a structured manner without disrupting temple rituals or public darshan. Devotees will be allowed to have darshan from the ‘Baharkatha’ (outer area) located at the Naatamandir during the counting of Ratna Bhandar valuables, Harichandan said.
The Ratna Bhandar Monitoring Committee has prepared an 11-page guideline outlining a three-phase inventory process. In the first phase, ornaments used regularly by the Lords will be counted. This will be followed by the inventory of valuables stored in the outer chamber and subsequently the inner chamber of the Ratna Bhandar.
To ensure enhanced security measures, servitors engaged in the inventory process will be issued identity cards. A detailed list of individuals present during the counting will also be prepared and maintained.
As part of efforts to maintain transparency, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has nominated two officials to participate in the inventory process. After the daily counting of inner chamber valuables, the keys will be deposited at the District Treasury.
While the entire inventory process will be videographed, with camera chips preserved securely, all ornaments will be digitised and cross-verified with the existing inventory list prepared in 1978, ensuring accuracy.
