Puri, April 16: The counting and inventory of ornaments inside the Ratna Bhandar of Shri Jagannath Temple resumed on Thursday, with restrictions imposed on darshan near the inner wooden chamber. The process entered its second day inside the inner treasury, beginning after the completion of the morning rituals.

The inventory team entered the temple premises following a meeting at the Shri Mandir office. The third phase of the counting exercise, which commenced on April 13, has already covered more than 20 ornaments.

Earlier, the counting of ornaments in the movable and outer Ratna Bhandar had been completed. The work was temporarily halted on April 14 due to Pana Sankranti and on April 15 for the Banakalagi ritual of the deities. The ongoing process inside the inner Ratna Bhandar is scheduled to continue till April 18.

The exercise is being carried out in the presence of the high-level committee chairman Justice Bishwanath Rath, Shri Mandir Chief Administrator Arabinda Padhee, and other officials. The locks of the treasury are opened in the presence of a magistrate after the keys are brought from the district treasury, following standard operating procedures.

The entire process is being documented through videography, photography, and 3D scanning. Ornaments are being matched with the 1978 inventory list, with each item identified, recorded, and digitally catalogued. Silver ornaments are preserved in white cloth, while gold items are secured in yellow cloth.

Each ornament is tagged with a 2026 identification number along with its 1978 serial reference before being stored in steel boxes and secured inside chests. Currently, two chests are in use, with arrangements made for additional storage if required.

Officials said the inventory is being conducted using scientific methods, including weight measurement and digital cataloguing, ensuring complete transparency in the process.