Bhubaneswar, Dec 24 (PTI) The long-pending inventory of valuables stored in the Ratna Bhandar (treasury) of the Puri Jagannath temple is likely to begin early next year, Justice Biswanath Rath, chairman of the high-level committee overseeing the process, said on Wednesday.
“We are aiming to start the inventory of valuables in the Ratna Bhandar by January. However, the dates have not been decided yet. The committee will discuss the matter on December 27,” Justice Rath told reporters in Cuttack.
Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) chief Arabinda Padhee said the December 27 meeting will focus on finalising the draft Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for inventorising the ornaments and valuables.
The last inventory was conducted in 1978 and took 72 days. Justice Rath said all items stored in the Ratna Bhandar will be counted and tallied with the 1978 records. “For security reasons, the counting will be done inside the inner chamber of the treasury,” he said.
The Ratna Bhandar was reopened in 2024 after four decades for repair work, which was completed in July. The valuables were returned to the treasury after the repairs.
Justice Rath said the inventory will be conducted in accordance with temple rituals and is expected to take less time than earlier. “Previously, the inventory was done using an earthen lamp. This time, we have electric light, so the process should be easier,” he said, adding that all valuables will be digitised.
An SJTA official said the SOP will ensure the handling, weighing and documentation of valuables without disrupting the daily ‘Niti-Kanti’ rituals of Lord Jagannatha, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra. The Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee, headed by Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingh Deb, will review the SOP to ensure it aligns with ancient temple traditions.
State Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan said the inventory process may take around four months.
Category: Breaking News
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