Reopening of Puri Jagannath Temple's 'Ratna Bhandar' Treasury After 46 Years: A Historic Event

The Odisha government on Sunday unlocked the revered ‘Ratna Bhandar’ of the 12th-century Jagannath temple in Puri after 46 years, as announced by the Chief Minister's office. The treasury, housing invaluable ornaments and other valuables, was unlocked at 1:28 pm during the auspicious 'Suba Bela' (good time), marking the beginning of an extensive inventory process.

In preparation for the reopening, special boxes were brought to the temple to shift the valuables to a temporary strong room. Among the 11 people who entered the temple to reopen its revered treasury were former Orissa High Court judge Biswanath Rath, Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) chief administrator Arabinda Padhee, ASI Superintendent DB Gadanayak, and a representative of Puri's titular king, Gajapati Maharaja.

The process was greenlit by a high-level committee led by former Orissa High Court judge Justice Biswanath Rath. After receiving government approval, standard operating procedures (SOPs) were established to guide the inventory. The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), led by its chief administrator, is overseeing the operation. "Three SOPs have been made. One is related to the reopening of the Ratna Bhandar, the second for the management of the temporary Ratna Bhandar, and the third one is related to the inventory of the valuables," stated Arabinda Padhee, SJTA chief administrator.

"The inventory work will not start today. It will be done after getting approval from the government on the engagement of valuers, goldsmiths, and other experts," he added. To ensure transparency, representatives from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) are present to support the inventory team.