Inventory of Ratna Bhandar to begin by early March: Odisha Law Minister
Puri(By Abhishek Mohanty): The inventory of the Ratna Bhandar of the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri is likely to commence in the first week of March, Odisha Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan said on Wednesday.
The Minister informed that discussions have already been held with the Chhatisha Nijog, and a final date will be announced soon after reviewing all necessary aspects. The State government is planning to initiate the process within the first week of March, ensuring that rituals and daily worship schedules remain unaffected.
Harichandan said the responsibility for conducting the inventory has been entrusted to the temple managing committee and the temple administration. The timing will be decided in accordance with the rituals and traditions of the deities so that regular niti and darshan are not disturbed.
The final schedule will be declared after a comprehensive review.
Earlier, the Odisha government approved a 14-page Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for conducting a fresh inventory of the three Ratna Bhandars.
The SOP provides for the formation of two high-level panels — one to supervise the entire process and another to physically handle the ornaments during counting and documentation.
As per the guidelines, the Challanti Bhandar and the Bahar Ratna Bhandar will be inventorised in the presence of a magistrate and designated temple officials. The entire process will be video recorded, and the records will be preserved in digital format.
The Bhitar Ratna Bhandar will undergo inventory under stricter supervision.
A three-member supervisory committee will oversee the exercise, while a 10-member handling team will categorise and properly place the ornaments.
The Chief Administrator will head both panels.
Special chests have been prepared to separately store gold, silver and other ornaments, each accompanied by a detailed list of the items inside.
Senior officers from the Reserve Bank of India, empanelled goldsmiths from public sector banks, and government-nominated gemmologists will participate in the process.
Officials clarified that no valuation of the ornaments will be undertaken.
However, the grade and details of precious and semi-precious stones embedded in the ornaments will be documented.
The draft proposal for the inventory was prepared by the temple’s legal subcommittee after examining the methodology adopted during the 1978 inventory.
The proposal will be placed before the temple managing committee for final approval of the schedule.
The administration has assured that darshan of the deities will continue during the inventory period, though devotees will be allowed to have darshan from a distance. Special ritual days and major festivals will be avoided while finalising the dates.
