Puri: Inner Chamber Of Ratna Bhandar To Be Reopened On July 18

Puri, July 16: After the initial reopening of the Srimandir Ratna Bhandar Sunday (July 14), the inner chamber will be reopened July 18 -- Thursday.

The decision was taken at an emergency meeting, chaired by Justice Biswanath Rath, the head of supervisory committee.

The auspicious time to open the inner chamber has been set between 9.51 am and 12.15 pm, Thursday. Two keys will be brought from the Government treasury to open the chamber.

The valuables and jewellery in the Sindooks (wooden trunk) and almirah will also be transferred on the same day and the whole process will be recorded through videography. The inner chamber houses non-utilised jewellery and other precious items donated by kings and devotees over centuries.

Earlier Sunday, Justice Rath said the inner chamber was opened as per the SoP approved by the State government.

"Three locks of the Inner Ratna Bhandar were cut open in the presence of the magistrate as keys didn't work," said Justice Rath, who led a team to open the Ratna Bhandar. He said the locks were broken as per the SoP. He said that the Inner Ratna Bhandar had a sealed lock, besides three closed locks.

He said the Inner Treasure Trove is a 15X10 ft-size room where Almirahs and Sindooks (wooden trunks) have been kept. All these containers have been leaned against the walls.

"We saw a Godrej-brand Almirah and many wooden Sindooks and almirahs kept close to walls. While the ornaments of outer chamber of Ratna Bhandar were shifted to a temporary strong room, we didn't have time to shift the treasures from the Inner Ratna Bhandar today. They will be shifted on a later date," said Justice Rath.

He said the existence of any Sudanga (underground passage), if any, can be known only after Almirahs and Sindooks are taken out.

Justice Rath asserted that the inner chamber needs repair. "The inner parts of the treasury house have been videographed," he said adding that the inner chamber has been locked with new locks, the keys of which were sent to the Government Treasury for safekeeping.

The Ratna Bhandar of the 12th-century shrine was last opened 46 years ago in 1978 and the reopening of it was a major political issue in the state during the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.

According to sources, Ratna Bhandar consists of two parts - the outer chamber holding ornaments used in rituals, the inner chamber housing non-utilised jewellery and other precious items donated by kings and devotees over centuries.

In 2018, then Law Minister Pratap Jena had informed the state Assembly that 'Ratna Bhandar' had over 12,831 bhari (one bhari equals to 11.66 gram) of gold ornaments fitted with precious stones along with 22,153 bhari of silver utensils and other items.