Puri (Odisha)

The Ratna Bhandar (treasure trove) of the Shri Jagannath Temple in Puri was again opened today for the shifting of the valuables and ornaments from the inner chambers to the temporary Ratna Bhandar.

The opening of the inner Ratna Bhandar was done by following Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) issued by the Odisha government, with 11 members in the inspection committee under the chairmanship of Justice Biswanath

Rath entering the inner bhandar for shifting the jewellery, a district administrator said.

"Jagannath Temple's inner Ratna Bhandar was opened today following standard operating procedure (SOP) issued by the government of Odisha. 11 members of the inspection committee under the chairmanship of Justice Biswanath Rath entered the Shree Mandir for shifting the Ratna jewellery of the inner bhandar," Puri Collector Siddharth Shankar Swain said.

Puri Superintendent of Police Pinak Mishra said that security arrangements have been made for the opening of the inner Ratna Bhandar as per the SOP given by the government.

"Security arrangements have been made for Jagannath Temple's inner Ratna Bhandar opening. According to the following standard operating procedure (SOP) issued by the government of Odisha, we have made arrangements," he said.

The King of Puri, Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb, also visited the holy shrine today.

Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb visited the outer as well as the inner Ratna Bhandar after they were opened.

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"Ornaments of outer Ratna Bhandar already shifted earlier. Today, the ornaments of the inner Ratna Bhandar have been shifted. All shifted work may be done this evening at the temporary place, which is very secure. After that, ASI will repair the outer and inner Ratan Bhandars," Maharaja Dibyasingha said.

On Sunday, July 14, the Ratna Bhandar of the Shri Jagannath Temple was re-opened after over four decades. Special boxes were also brought to Shri Jagannath Temple ahead of the re-opening of 'Ratna Bhandar' for the storage of the ornaments.