Bhubaneswar, June 24: Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan has announced that the date and modalities for opening the Ratna Bhandar (treasure trove) of the Shree Jagannath Temple will be revealed soon.
"The government is currently finalizing the details regarding the Ratna Bhandar. We will provide a clear schedule and the procedures to be followed shortly. The Ratna Bhandar will definitely be opened, and an inventory of its contents will be conducted," stated Harichandan in a discussion with reporters.
The Ratna Bhandar, located near the temple's sanctum sanctorum, is considered the most valuable asset of the Shree Jagannath Temple. It houses numerous priceless items, including diamonds, gold, and silver jewelry. Temple rules dictate that all gold and jewels offered to Lord Jagannath are stored in the two chambers of the Ratna Bhandar—the inner and outer chambers.
While the outer chamber is periodically opened for various deity rituals and its contents used during the Suna Besha of Lord Jagannath, the inner chamber has remained sealed since it was last inventoried in 1978. According to the Jagannath Temple Act, an audit of the valuables in the inner chamber should occur every three years.
However, no proper audit has been conducted since 1978. The temple's official chronicle, ‘Madala Panji,’ records that King Anangabhima Dev donated over 250 kilograms of gold for making Lord Jagannath’s gold ornaments.
