Odisha Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan Announces Opening of Shri Jagannath Temple’s Treasure Trove
Odisha Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan announced that the first part of opening the ‘Bahar Ratna Bhandar’ of the Shri Jagannath Temple is complete, with all ornaments moved to the Treasury. The ‘Bhitar Ratna Bhandar’ will be opened soon, and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) will handle repairs. The Reserve Bank of India will assist in counting the valuables to ensure transparency. The process is being recorded for documentation purposes.
Details of the Process
Harichandan explained that the opening of the Ratna Bhandar was divided into three parts. The first part, involving the ‘Bahar Ratna Bhandar,’ is complete. The ASI will now conduct repairs before the ‘Bhitar Ratna Bhandar’ is opened. After repairs, the ASI will hand over the items to the Temple administration.
Chief Administrator of the Shree Jagannatha Temple Office, Arabinda Kumar Padhee, confirmed that all valuables from the outer Bhandar were moved to a temporary strong room. The inner Ratna Bhandar was also opened, and the process was recorded for internal documentation.
Background
The Ratna Bhandar of the Shri Jagannath Temple was opened after more than four decades, following Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) issued by the Odisha government. The government approved the opening after an inventory of the valuables, including jewelry, was conducted. Special boxes were brought to the temple for the re-opening.
