Jagannath Temple Jewelry to Return to Original Ratna Bhandar on Sept 23

Puri, Sep 18 : The jewelry and ornaments of Lord Jagannath and other deities at the 12th-century Shree Jagannath Temple will be shifted back to the original Ratna Bhandars (temple treasury) on September 23, officials announced on Wednesday.

Chief Administrator of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), Arabind Padhee, said the transfer will be conducted during an auspicious period between 7:17 AM and 11:17 AM. Darshan of the deities will remain suspended during this time to facilitate the process.

The shifting will follow the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) laid down by the state government, involving all nine members of the Ratna Bhandar Sub-Committee and two members of the Ratna Bhandar Inspection Committee, headed by Justice Biswanath Rath.

In 2024, ahead of the treasury’s repair, the ornaments had been temporarily moved to strong rooms after the Bahar and Bhitar Ratna Bhandars were opened on July 16 and 19 under the supervision of the Rath committee. Later, on December 17, 2024, the Ratna Bhandars were handed over to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) for repairs and conservation.

Using advanced non-invasive tools such as deep scans and ground-penetrating radars, ASI experts repaired damaged portions over a three-month period. With restoration now complete, the ornaments will return to their original place.

During the transfer, only designated servitors will be allowed entry to ensure smooth continuation of daily rituals. Their names will be submitted to the Superintendent of Police. While devotees may enter the temple premises, access to the Natamandap and Bhitarkath areas will remain restricted.

Following the transfer, a fresh inventory of ornaments will be prepared and compared with the 1978 record, Padhee added.