Editor’s Note
The sacred jewels of Lord Jagannath have been securely transferred back to their original treasury, the Ratna Bhandar, following established protocol. As detailed in this report, the process involved a tripartite custody of keys, ensuring shared responsibility between the temple administration, the Gajapati Maharaja’s representative, and the treasurer.
The jewels of Lord Jagannath have been shifted to the original Ratna Bhandar (treasury). The temple administration has completed the process of shifting the jewels as per the prior decision. According to the rules, one key has been given to the temple administration, one to the representative of the Gajapati Maharaja, and one to the treasurer.
For the restoration of the treasury, all jewels from the inner and outer Ratna Bhandar were kept under tight security in a temporary strong room built inside the temple’s Khaatesej and Changada houses on July 18, 2024.
According to Chief Administrator Arvind Padhi, all jewels were transferred from the temporary strong room to the original Ratna Bhandar between 10:55 AM and 2:55 PM on Tuesday. Following this, the inner Ratna Bhandar (Bhitara Ratna Bhandar) was sealed. As per the state government’s Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), the keys to the treasury were deposited in the district treasury under the supervision of the Puri District Collector.
However, the valuation of the jewels and ornaments will be conducted according to new guidelines after further instructions are issued by the state government.
Today, before the process of shifting the jewels and ornaments into the treasury, the chairman of the high-level committee for the treasury, Justice Biswanath Rath, the temple’s chief administrator, the Puri District Magistrate, the SP, and the authorized representative of the chief administrator first had darshan of the deities located at the temple’s side and then of the Lord.
Subsequently, at 10:55 AM, all jewels and ornaments from both the inner and outer treasuries were shifted from the temporary strong room inside the temple to the main treasury.
It is noted that the Ratna Bhandar was first opened and its condition inspected on July 24, 2024. Later, on July 18, all jewels and ornaments from both the outer and inner Ratna Bhandar, along with shelves and chests, were placed under tight security in a temporary strong room inside the temple.
Subsequently, the Ratna Bhandar was handed over to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) for restoration.
However, after the government’s new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) arrives, all jewels and ornaments in the Ratna Bhandar will be valued.
The last valuation of the jewels and ornaments was done in 1978, and in the coming days, that list will be matched during the valuation.
For the process of transferring the jewels and ornaments to the Ratna Bhandar, darshan for devotees was closed from 9:30 AM today. Police implemented a three-tier security arrangement in the temple. However, after the process of transferring the jewels and ornaments was successfully completed today, Jagannath devotees are now awaiting the valuation of the jewels and ornaments.
