Puri temple’s ‘Ratna Bhandar’ to reopen today after 46 yrs

Bhubaneswar, July 13

The Odisha government is set to unlock the ‘Ratna Bhandar’, the revered treasury of Lord Jagannath temple in Puri, on Sunday after 46 years for an inventory of the ornaments and other valuables, officials said.

The treasury was last opened in 1978. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which looks after the maintenance of the 12th century shrine, will use the opportunity to carry out repairs, they added.

“We are fully prepared for the reopening of the Ratna Bhandar on Sunday. We will strictly adhere to the standard operating procedures (SOP) issued by the government in accordance with the Shree Jagannath Temple Act,” Puri District Collector Siddharth Shankar Swain said.

“The 16-member high-level committee constituted by the state government recommended reopening the Ratna Bhandar on July 14. Following traditional attire, we will first offer prayers to Lord Lokanath inside the temple,” said Soumendra Muduli, a member of the special committee chaired by retired Justice Biswanath Rath of Orissa High Court.

Addressing rumours of a guardian snake inside the treasury, Haladhar Dasmohapatra, chief servitor of Lord Balabhadra, clarified that there is no such impediment and urged people to approach with pure intentions.