Puri, August 31: The counting and verification of the jewellery and valuables stored in the Ratna Bhandar of Srimandir will begin today and continue for two days, the temple administration said. The exercise will be carried out in accordance with the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) approved by the state government.

The administration has stressed that the counting process will not be allowed to disrupt the daily rituals and religious ceremonies of Lord Jagannath under any circumstances.

During the exercise, the duration of darshan for devotees may be reduced. Devotees will be allowed to have darshan only from the ‘Bahar Katha’ during this period. The Srimandir administration has appealed to all servitors and devotees to extend their cooperation and support, as they have done during previous phases of the exercise.

The counting of valuables from the Chalanti Bhandar has already been completed, while the inventory of the Bahar Bhandar is nearing completion. The focus will now be on counting and documenting the jewellery and other valuables kept inside the inner Ratna Bhandar.

The exercise will be conducted under the supervision of a high-level Ratna Bhandar inspection team. Experts from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), gemologists, photographers and other specialists will be involved in the process.

The entire exercise will be documented through videography and photography, while 3D mapping will also be carried out. All jewellery and valuables will subsequently be wrapped in two to three protective layers and securely stored inside chests.

Unlike the 1978 inventory exercise, when no gemologists were engaged, the current process includes specialised gemologists to ensure accurate identification and documentation of the ornaments. Gemologists, along with the temple's traditional goldsmiths and the bank's goldsmiths, will determine and record the complete identity and characteristics of each ornament using their expertise.

According to the temple administration, the measures are being undertaken in accordance with the approved SOP with the objective of ensuring that the valuable ornaments remain safely preserved inside the Ratna Bhandar for at least the next 100 years.