Inventory of Ratna Bhandar Begins at Puri Jagannath Temple Amid Tight Security

Puri: The long-awaited inventory of the Ratna Bhandar of the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri commenced on Tuesday, with elaborate preparations and stringent security arrangements put in place by the temple administration.

According to officials, the process of cataloguing ornaments and valuables is being conducted under a strict security cordon, with access limited only to authorised personnel. Participants are scheduled to enter the temple premises between 12:09 pm and 1:45 pm, adhering to prescribed traditional dress codes and a detailed Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).

Authorities have ensured that the daily rituals of the deities and darshan for devotees continue without disruption. The SOP has been carefully designed to strike a balance between preserving temple traditions and carrying out the inventory exercise.

Once the counting is completed, the inventory will be cross-verified with records dating back to 1978. Each ornament will be weighed and identified, with the assistance of two appointed gemologists. The process will also include digital photography for proper documentation.

Following identification, counting, and weighing, the ornaments will be securely wrapped in multiple layers and stored in six specially prepared chests. Gold ornaments will be placed on yellow cloth, silver items on white cloth, and other valuables on red cloth before being systematically arranged inside the chests.

The exercise involves temple servitors, officials from government banks, gemologists, and representatives from the Reserve Bank of India.

While temple rituals will continue as usual, access to certain areas has been restricted as a precautionary measure. Public darshan from Bhitara Katha will remain suspended, with devotees allowed to offer prayers only from the Bahara Katha.

The temple administration has appealed to devotees to cooperate fully during the ongoing inventory process.