The Odisha government on Tuesday approved a 14-page standard operating procedure (SOP) for the much-awaited stock of ornaments and valuables stored at Ratna Bhandar of Jagannath Temple in Puri, and the temple management committee is set to announce the start date and auspicious timing after its next meeting scheduled next week.
The SOPs were presented before Lord Jagannath on Tuesday, said Arabinda Padhi, Chief Administration Officer of Shree Jagannath Temple. The document, which was approved by the Prime Minister and Law Minister before the government’s final approval, outlines the procedures for counting, documenting and handling of ornaments in the temple treasury.
A month ago, the Orissa High Court had directed the state government to complete the inventory of jewelery and valuables of Lord Jagannath Temple within three months following a public interest litigation in the matter.
Badi said that the inventory process will be carried out by a supervision and handling team. The Director General will head the supervision team. In the event of his absence, the region shall be led by the district judge or the Deputy Director General. No more than three members of the Supervisory Group will be present within Ratna Bhandar at any given time.
A 10-member handling team comprising temple management, temple servants and representatives of public sector banks will conduct the counting and documentation process. “Two goldsmiths from the State Bank of India or other public sector banks will assist in the initial identification and appraisal, along with gem experts. If required, the Reserve Bank of India may provide technical support. The Gajapati Maharaja may also be part of the handling team if he chooses to participate,” Puri said.
The operation will be performed under CCTV surveillance with full photography and video. A digital catalog will be prepared, and all participants will be asked to sign confidentiality agreements. Unauthorized cell phones or metal objects will not be permitted.
The inventory will be conducted in stages, starting with the regularly used section of the Ratna Bhandar, followed by the outer room and then the inner room. The internal Ratna Bhandar keys will be deposited in the locker at the end of each working day and retrieved the next morning in the presence of the Magistrate.
Badi said that approximately 24 suitable working days have been identified before this year’s Rath Yatra, keeping in mind the heavy footfall on weekends and other major rituals. “Care will be taken to ensure that devotees do not face any inconvenience during darshan,” he said. During the inventory, devotees will be allowed to take darshan only from outside the sanctum sanctorum, with only designated sevayats allowed inside for daily rituals.
Older records will be verified, including the 1978 inventory, which took 72 days to complete, and decoration records dating back to 1885 and 1982. The final inventory list will be submitted to the temple management committee and sent to the state government. New inventory will not include any current jewelry appraisal.
Located near the precincts of the 12th century temple, Ratna Bhandar houses centuries-old gold, silver and diamond jewellery. The last inventory, from May 13 to 23, 1978, recorded 454 gold pieces weighing 128,380 kg and 293 silver pieces weighing 221,530 kg across both rooms.
In July 2024, all the jewelery was removed from the treasury for audit and repair work, which was carried out by the Archaeological Survey of India.
