Puri Jagannath Temple's 'Ratna Bhandar' To Reopen Today: Minister Prithviraj Harichandan

Bhubaneswar, July 13: The Ratna Bhandar (treasure trove) of Shree Jagannath temple in Odisha’s Puri will be reopened Sunday for the first time after more than four decades, for an inventory of the ornaments and other valuables, informed State's Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan Saturday.

The State government has approved the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for reopening of Ratna Bhandar, recommended by the high-power supervisory committee and temple managing committee, the Minister said.

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 three 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.