Gods Dressed, Pujas Performed As Puri Jagannath Temple's 'Ratna Bhandar' Reopens After 46 years

The Odisha government has decided to prepare a digital catalog of the valuables in the Ratna Bhandar that will have details such as their weight and make.

The Odisha government on Sunday unlocked the 'Ratna Bhandar', the revered treasury of the 12th-century Jagannath temple in Puri, after 46 years for an inventory of the valuables and the repair of the structure. The treasury was last opened in 1985. It has not been inventoried since 1978, and at the time it took more than 70 days to complete the process.

The Bharatiya Janata Party-led state government has formed a committee, headed by a former Orissa HC judge, to supervise the inventory of valuables in the treasury. The Ratna Bhandar of the Jagannath temple was opened at 1.28 PM. 

According to Justice Biswanath Rath, the chairman of the committee, the place where the valuables will be kept temporarily has been identified.

The ritual of 'Agnya', in which approval is sought for the reopening of the Ratna Bhandar, was completed in the morning. The gods were dressed, pujas were performed, and snake charmers were to be deployed to appease the serpents believed to be guarding the treasure.

Members of the committee, including Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) chief administrator Arabinda Padhee, entered the shrine at noon in traditional attire for the reopening.

The state government has also issued Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the entire process.

According to Padhee, 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.

To minimize the time taken in the inventory process, the government has decided to prepare a digital catalog of the valuables in the Ratna Bhandar that will have details such as their weight and make, news agency PTI reported quoting an official.

As per the report, Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) personnel were seen entering the temple premises with lights that will be installed inside the Ratna Bhandar.  

It is also apprehended that there are snakes inside the treasury. The government has appointed two Snake Helpline teams -- one inside and another outside the temple-- to catch snakes. 

Moreover, the structural engineers, mechanical engineers, and civil engineers of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) will also inspect Ratna Bhandar for the repair work.