Jagannath Temple Treasure Shifted Back to Ratna Bhandaras Under Tight Security

Under a three-layer security cover, the treasure of the Sri Jagannath Temple was today shifted from two temporary strong rooms to the permanent Bahar and Bhitar Ratna Bhandaras.

The operation was carried out in the presence of all eleven members of the committee, strictly following the standard operating procedure (SOP) set by the Odisha government.

Last year, during the annual Rath Yatra, the Bahar and Bhitar Ratna Bhandaras were opened, and the treasure was temporarily moved to strong rooms to facilitate repairs and conservation work by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

Today, the committee members—led by Chief Administrator Arabinda Padhee, District Magistrate Dibyajyoti Parida, Superintendent of Police Pratik Singh, Chhatisha Nijog President Janardhan Pattajoshi Mahapatra, Ganesh Dasmahapatra, Deula Karan, Chadhau Karan, Bhandar Mekap, along with Justice Biswanath Rath, Sudarshan Pattnaik, and other temple administrators—convened at the temple wearing traditional servitor attire.

A representative of the Gajapati, Dibyasingh Deb, was also present.

According to a temple press release, the shifting began at 10:55 a.m. and took approximately four hours, concluding at 2:55 p.m. After the transfer, the Ratna Bhandaras were locked and sealed.

The keys to the Bahar Ratna Bhandar, which houses daily-use ornaments and utensils of the deities, were handed over to Pattajoshi Mahapatra and the Bhandar Mekap.

The Bhitar Ratna Bhandar was sealed in the presence of a magistrate, and its keys were handed over to the district treasury officer for safekeeping. During the operation, darshan for devotees was temporarily closed, although those wishing to purchase Mahaprasad were allowed entry to Anand Bazar.

Priests had previously consecrated both Ratna Bhandaras.

During the 2024 Rath Yatra, the Ratna Bhandara supervision committee, led by Justice Biswanath Rath, had to break the locks of the Bhitar Ratna Bhandar as the keys were missing and replace them with new ones.

On July 18, 2024, the treasure from both Bhandaras was shifted to temporary strong rooms while the Ratna Bhandar building was handed over to the ASI for conservation and repairs.

Following the completion of the work, the ASI returned the Bhandaras to the temple authorities.

Temple Chief Administrator Arabinda Padhee stated that a fresh inventory of the treasure would be conducted once the state government prescribes an SOP. Earlier, the Reserve Bank of India had been approached to send two senior officers to assist in the inventory, sources said.