Bhubaneswar, July 9: The high-level committee chaired by Justice Biswanath Rath on Tuesday proposed the State Government to open the Ratna Bhandar (treasury) of the Puri Srimandir on July 14.
Justice Rath informed that in the second meeting of the reconstituted committee, which was established to oversee the inventorying of valuables, including the jewelry stored in Ratna Bhandar, it was decided that a proposal submiited to the state government to reopen the Ratna Bhandar on July 14.
The retired High Court judge who headed the high lvel committee said that regardless of whether the key is available or functional, the Ratna Bhandar will be reopened and only the cooperation of devotees is needed. He added that special arrangements will be made to ensure that the devotees can have smooth darshan of the deities during the opening of Ratna Bhandar.
It is worth mentioning that, in 1805, the then Collector of Puri Charles Grome had compiled a comprehensive inventory of the ornaments stored in the Ratna Bhandar. In the list, it was revealed that the treasury contained a staggering 1,333 items, consisting of 74 distinct types of ornaments. It also contained a vast collection of coins, including 128 gold coins, 1,297 silver coins, 106 copper coins, and 24 ancient gold coins.
