Ratna Bhandar / Jagannath Temple Ratna Bhandar Counting Starts March 25 - Transparency Assured
·2 weeks ago·2 min read
Key Points
Ratna Bhandar counting begins March 25 at Jagannath Temple.
SOP prepared by Odisha government to be strictly followed.
Ornaments categorized by color-coded cloths.
Puri, Mar 23: The much-awaited Ratna Bhandar (treasure chamber) counting process at the Jagannath Temple in Puri is set to begin on March 25, following a final review and meeting chaired by Odisha Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan. The minister personally inspected the temple premises before convening the meeting, ensuring that every step will strictly adhere to the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) prepared by the state government.
According to Law minister, the entire process will be conducted with utmost transparency and devotion, beginning with a ritual submission of the work to Lord Jagannath. A shubh muhurta (auspicious time) has been fixed between 12:09 PM and 1:45 PM on March 25 to commence the counting.
Two teams have been formed - a supervising team and a handling team - to oversee the process. The counting will start with the daily-use Ratna Bhandar, followed by the outer chamber, and finally the inner chamber. The inventory will be matched against the 1978 list, with experts including RBI officials, measurement department officers, and two gemologists present to identify rare and precious stones.
The SOP mandates that ornaments will be categorized and placed on colored cloths - gold on yellow, silver on white, and other ornaments on red - before being stored in boxes and locked in the treasury. While the ornaments will be weighed, no valuation will be carried out.
The minister clarified that the treasures will be secured with two to three layers of protection inside the Ratna Bhandar. The entire process will be videographed, and the keys to the inner chamber will be brought from the treasury under the presence of a magistrate.
The counting will pause on weekends and special ritual days, ensuring that temple traditions remain undisturbed. Devotees will be allowed darshan from outside during the process.
This historic exercise, being conducted after decades, is expected to take several days. The Law Minister emphasized that every word of the SOP will be followed meticulously, and the final report will be shared after completion.
According to Law minister, the entire process will be conducted with utmost transparency and devotion, beginning with a ritual submission of the work to Lord Jagannath. A shubh muhurta (auspicious time) has been fixed between 12:09 PM and 1:45 PM on March 25 to commence the counting.
Two teams have been formed - a supervising team and a handling team - to oversee the process. The counting will start with the daily-use Ratna Bhandar, followed by the outer chamber, and finally the inner chamber. The inventory will be matched against the 1978 list, with experts including RBI officials, measurement department officers, and two gemologists present to identify rare and precious stones.
The SOP mandates that ornaments will be categorized and placed on colored cloths - gold on yellow, silver on white, and other ornaments on red - before being stored in boxes and locked in the treasury. While the ornaments will be weighed, no valuation will be carried out.
The minister clarified that the treasures will be secured with two to three layers of protection inside the Ratna Bhandar. The entire process will be videographed, and the keys to the inner chamber will be brought from the treasury under the presence of a magistrate.
The counting will pause on weekends and special ritual days, ensuring that temple traditions remain undisturbed. Devotees will be allowed darshan from outside during the process.
This historic exercise, being conducted after decades, is expected to take several days. The Law Minister emphasized that every word of the SOP will be followed meticulously, and the final report will be shared after completion.
📱 Get Argus News App
✨📰 60 Word News🎬 Argus Podcast📺 Live TV and Breaking News🔔 Free Notification Alerts
Download Free:
Related Topics
Explore more stories