The long-anticipated inventory of the Ratna Bhandar (treasury) at Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha, is set to commence on Wednesday, March 25, representing the first comprehensive assessment of the sacred treasures in almost five decades.
The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has established a detailed schedule following consultations with temple scholars, astrologers, and the managing committee, chaired by Puri Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb. The process will begin during an auspicious time frame between 12:09 PM and 1:45 PM on Chaitra Shukla Saptami.
To ensure strict security and transparency, the district collector will retrieve the keys from the district treasury daily and return them after the day’s work.
A Three-Member Supervisory Team
A three-member supervisory team, led by SJTA Chief Administrator Arabinda Padhee, will oversee the entire operation. The handling team consists of ten members, including two gemmologists appointed by the state government, the temple’s traditional goldsmith, additional goldsmiths from nationalised banks, the Bhandar Mekapa (temple treasurer), and other traditional servitors such as Pattajoshi Mahapatra, Tadhau Karan, and Deula Karan, along with representatives from the temple managing committee and two senior officers from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Camera crews and video technicians will also be present to document the proceedings.
Advanced Documentation Techniques
For the first time, the inventory will utilize advanced documentation methods, including videography, photography, and 3D mapping, along with a complete digital catalogue. The renovated Ratna Bhandar, repaired by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), now includes separate secure chambers for different categories of valuables.
The inventory process will involve matching ornaments against the last inventory list prepared in 1978, identifying the type and quality of gems through gemmologists, assigning traditional names by the goldsmith, recording weights, sizes, and details of embedded stones, and creating e-catalogues. No monetary valuation of the jewels will be conducted. Gold ornaments will be wrapped in yellow velvet, silver items in white velvet, and other precious pieces in red velvet before being placed in designated vaults or chests within the renovated treasury chambers (Bahar and Bhitar Ratna Bhandar). The inventory will proceed in phases, starting with movable items and daily-use ornaments.
All personnel entering the Ratna Bhandar will adhere to a traditional dress code, wearing dhoti and gamucha.
Uninterrupted Temple Rituals
Temple officials have assured that the daily rituals of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra will remain unaffected. Devotees will continue to have darshan of the sibling deities from the Bahar Katha area on working days. The inventory exercise will be paused on Saturdays, Sundays, and major festival days to avoid disruptions amid heavy crowds. A monthly calendar will outline the working days.
The 1978 inventory took 72 days to complete. The Orissa High Court has mandated that the current exercise be completed within three months, although SJTA officials have indicated they may seek an extension due to the extensive and meticulous nature of the work, which includes digitization for long-term preservation.
Official Statements
On March 21, Padhee stated: “…the state government has approved an SOP for the inventorization process. Today, under the chairmanship of the high-level committee chairperson, Justice Bishwanath Rath, we held a meeting with all concerned sevayats and thoroughly discussed the entire procedure… As per the SOP, there will be two teams. The handling team will be present in all three chambers of Ratna Bhandar, and the process will commence with the outer treasury. A separate supervising team will monitor the operations. The entire process will be videographed in the presence of an Executive Magistrate. With the blessings of Lord Jagannath, we pray that the entire inventorization process proceeds smoothly and successfully.”
Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan, reviewing the preparations for the inventory at a meeting on March 23, emphasized that the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) approved by the state government will be followed with the highest level of transparency. The entire exercise will be documented and stored in a digitized format. The inclusion of external experts such as gemmologists, a metallurgist, bank-recommended goldsmiths, and RBI officials will enhance accuracy and accountability compared to the previous inventory, which did not involve specialized gem identification. He noted that no gemologist participated in the 1978 inventory.
