The managing committee of the Puri Jagannath Temple on Friday decided to recommend to the Odisha government to open the inner ‘Ratna Bhandar’ (treasure house) of the shrine during the annual Rath Yatra next year.
The recommendation has been made to allow the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the custodian of the 12th century shrine, to carry out structural inspection of the inner Ratna Bhandar. No decision been taken regarding inventory of precious jewelleries stored inside it.
According to reports, the last inventory of the Ratna Bhandar was done between May 13 and July 23 in 1978. Though it was opened again on 14 July, 1985, no fresh inventory was made.
Based on the ASI’s letter to Shree Jagannath Temple Administraiton (SJTA) to inspect the Ratna Bhandar, the managing committee decided to request the state government to allow the ASI to inspect the Ratna Bhandar during the Rath Yatra, when the deities embark on a nine-day annual sojourn to Gundicha Temple.
“It will help for proper inspection without affecting the rituals and will cause no harm to the darshan of lakhs of devotees visiting the temple every day. The managing committee will send a recommendation letter to the state government in this regard,” Puri collector Samarth Verma told reporters after the meeting.
Verma said the state government will also be requested to form a high-level committee headed preferably by a retired judge of the Supreme Court or high court to supervise the process of opening of the inner Ratna Bhandar and its repair.
“Meanwhile, a technical committee will be formed comprising officials of ASI, members of the managing committee and SJTA, which will use modern technology like laser scanning and other survey mechanism for external assessment of the condition of the Ratna Bhandar. The committee will submit its report before the next meeting of the managing committee,” said Puri collector.
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The Ratna Bhandar of the 12th century shrine has an outer and an inner chamber. Though the outer chamber is opened regularly to fetch ornaments for the sibling deities during the Suna Besha (golden attire) — a key ritual during the annual Rath Yatra and other events — the inner chamber of the treasure house has not been opened for years.
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Though an attempt was made on 4 April, 2018 to open the inner chamber for inspection by an ASI expert team following a direction from the High Court, the attempt could not succeed owing to the unavailability of keys. Inspection was done from the outside.
