Puri: The process of inventorying the sacred ‘Ratna Bhandar’ of Puri temple will resume on May 11 and will continue for two days, adhering to the SOPs approved by the Odisha government, the Shree Jagannath Temple authorities said on Saturday.
Shree Jagannath Temple Administrator Arabinda Badi said the stock of Ratna Bhandar has been temporarily halted for several days due to the ongoing ‘Chandan Jatra’ of the Lord.
“As the Bhar Chandan Jatra festival will be completed on Sunday, it has been decided to resume Ratna Bhandar stock on May 11 and 12 after standard operating procedures,” Badi said.
Ratna Bhandar’s inventory work at the 12th-century shrine began on March 25, 2026, after a gap of 48 years, as approved by the state government.
“So far, the inventory of jewelery and valuables found at Chalanti Bhandar and Bhar Bhandar has been completed, while counting of items is underway at Bhitar Bhandar. It has been temporarily suspended due to Chandan Jatra,” an official said.
The chief administrator said that so far the inventory had been conducted for 57 hours and eight minutes during the previous nine-day phase. During this period, approximately 120 objects were preserved inside the inner chamber. This could represent 20 percent of the total inventory business, he said.
Of the nine days’ inventory, only four days’ counting can be done in the inner room, officials said, adding that all valuables are being verified with the temple records of 1978, which is the previous inventory.
Gemologists, goldsmiths and other experts are involved in the inventory process, and each piece is photographed, videotaped and 3D mapped to maintain transparency, the official said.
He pointed out that gold, silver and other valuables are wrapped in color-coded fabrics and systematically stored in specially prepared boxes according to their metal classification to ensure transparency and long-term preservation.
He added that after conducting the daily inventory, the keys to the internal room are kept in the state treasury for security reasons.
The inventory work is being carried out without affecting the daily rituals of the temple. Devotees are allowed to have darshan of the deities from ‘Bhar Katha’ during the inventory work.
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