Ratna Bhandar / Puri Ratna Bhandar Inventory to Resume August 31

Puri, Aug 22: The Ratna Bhandar of holy Jagannath Temple will undergo another round of inventory and verification on August 31 and September 1.

The decision was taken keeping upcoming festivals in mind and following the advice of the temple commander. The process will be conducted strictly under the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) approved by the Odisha government.

The ongoing Ratna Bhandar counting began on March 25, 2026. First, the movable treasury was verified, followed by the outer Ratna Bhandar. The current focus is on the inner treasury. So far, the exercise has consumed nearly 57 hours and 8 minutes.

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During the Rath Yatra on July 19, nine rare ornaments used for Lord Jagannath’s adornment were counted and matched in a special session lasting 2 hours and 27 minutes.

However, the Jhoba Kanthi could not be verified as it was in use on the Lord’s body. Other ornaments such as three silver anklets, three Rahu Rekhas, and three Ratna Chitas were successfully counted and matched.

The process involves weighing ornaments, 3D mapping, videography, and identification by gem experts. The counting is conducted inside the Khata Seja Ghar, ensuring maximum security. These ornaments belong to the movable treasury but could not be verified earlier as they were in use during rituals.

Structure of the Counting Teams

The SOP mandates two teams: a supervising team and a handling team. The supervising team comprises three members, including the Chief Administrator or, in his absence, the Deputy Chief Administrator. If both are unavailable, the temple’s Ritual Administrator oversees the process.

The handling team includes the Chief or Deputy Administrator, the chairman of the High-Level Committee as team leader, and one of the five designated temple servitors. Specialists such as Bhandar Mekap, Tadhaukaran, and Bania servitors are also part of the team.

Historical records from 1978, 1982, and 1985 will be used to match ornaments listed during earlier inventories.

With the next phase scheduled for August 31 and September 1, the temple administration is preparing for a meticulous and transparent exercise to safeguard the invaluable treasures of Lord Jagannath.