The Ratna Bhandar of Jagannath Temple has been opened after more than 40 years.

On Saturday, the Odisha government approved the opening of the Ratna Bhandar after more than forty years of inventory-taking.

In Puri, the ‘Ratna Bhandar’ (treasure trove) of the Shri Jagannath Temple has finally been opened after more than four decades on Sunday. The opening followed strict Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) issued by the Odisha government, which had approved the inventorying of valuables, including jewelry, stored there.

To mark this significant event, the Office of the Chief Minister of Odisha expressed reverence, stating, “Jai Jagannath Oh Lord! You are rhythmic. The whole world is oppressed by your desire. You are the heartbeat of the orthodox nation… The four doors of the temple were first opened at your will. Today, after 46 years of your will, the gem was opened with a great purpose…I strongly believe that this great work will be successful…”

Special boxes were brought to the Shri Jagannath Temple ahead of reopening the ‘Ratna Bhandar’ (Treasure Trove) today. Sri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Chief Arabinda Padhee explained, “The Odisha government has approved SOPs for opening the Ratna Bhandar. Today, it is being opened according to set guidelines. Authorized representatives from various ‘sewa’ groups, officials from the ASI, representatives of Shri Gajapati Maharaj, and others are present. The entire process is being video recorded for our records, ensuring confidentiality rather than publicity.”

Padhee outlined the three-step SOP for opening and inventorying the valuables in the Ratna Bhandar, emphasizing, “The first step is the opening of the outer Ratna Bhandar. For the inner Ratna Bhandar, additional guidelines are in place. There is also a temporary, secure room.. Once the shift from Ratna Bhandar to the strong room is completed, we will inventory the valuables. We seek Mahaprabhu’s blessings for the smooth opening of the Ratna Bhandar, followed by subsequent steps.”

The ‘Ratna Bhandar’ (Treasure Trove) of the Lord Jagannath Temple in Puri was scheduled to open at 1:28 pm on Sunday, adhering to SOPs issued by the state government. Justice Biswanath Rath, Chairman of the Inspection Committee, remarked, “Based on discussions and suggestions from ‘Purohits’ and ‘mukti mandap,’ the ideal time for opening the Ratna Bhandar is 1:28 pm.”

Justice Rath acknowledged the challenges ahead, noting, “The process will be quite challenging as the internal conditions of the Ratna Bhandar since its last opening in 1985 remain unknown… Today, we convened and decided to proceed with the opening and the careful handling of the ornaments… The process will include dual video recordings and certifications… Opening the locks today is our priority.”

Regarding the reopening, Odisha Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan assured, “The inventory will be conducted in the presence of a Reserve Bank of India representative, and a digital catalogue will be created post-counting… This digital catalogue will document photographs, weight, quality, and other details as a reference.”

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), responsible for maintaining the 12th-century shrine, will also undertake repair works in the Ratna Bhandar, last opened in 1978.