Ratna Bhandar Inventory Resumes at Jagannath Temple with Modern Documentation
The inventory covers treasures stored in the outer chamber, including gold ornaments and ceremonial attire associated with Lord Jagannath
Bhubaneswar: The long-awaited inventory and counting of the Ratna Bhandar (treasury) of the Jagannath Temple resumed on Wednesday, marking a crucial phase in Odisha’s efforts to document and safeguard one of India’s richest temple treasuries.
Officials said the exercise will be conducted in phases, with the current round continuing until April 11. The process will then resume from April 13 to April 18 as part of a comprehensive verification drive aimed at creating an authenticated record of the temple’s valuables.
During the counting period, access to the inner sanctum will remain restricted. However, devotees will still be allowed darshan of the outer sanctum, ensuring that religious practices continue with minimal disruption.
The inventory covers treasures stored in the outer chamber, including gold ornaments and ceremonial attire associated with Lord Jagannath, revered as ‘Rajarajeshwar.’ Given the antiquity and fragility of many items, officials indicated that the process is being carried out with extreme caution and may take longer than initially anticipated.
In a significant departure from past practices, authorities have deployed modern technology such as 3D mapping, high-resolution photography, and videography to document each stage of the exercise. This move comes in the backdrop of longstanding public demand for transparency, accountability, and scientific preservation of temple assets—issues that have featured prominently in earlier administrative reviews and media reports.
Once the enumeration is completed, the focus will shift to structural restoration and secure preservation of the Ratna Bhandar chambers, aligning with broader efforts to conserve the temple’s heritage infrastructure.
Meanwhile, Srimandir Chief Administrator Arabinda Padhee said three new ‘Ratna Palankas’ (ornate ceremonial platforms) have been crafted for the deities. “Senior servitors have guided their design and usage. Ivory components from the old palankas have been carefully incorporated into the new structures,” he said.
