The queue darshan system at Puri Srimandir is set to commence after the Kartik month concludes, alongside preparations for a comprehensive inventory of the Ratna Bhandar, the temple’s sacred treasure vault.
The inventory will be conducted directly inside the vault, with ancillary processes already underway. These initiatives were temporarily deferred for the Kartik month to prioritise festivities and rituals.
Odisha’s Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan shared these updates, emphasising that a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the Ratna Bhandar inventory is currently in preparation and will be issued shortly. Once released, the counting process will begin promptly. “An orderly darshan ensures no inconvenience to devotees,” the minister stated, urging them not to rush during visits and to cooperate with the temple administration’s arrangements.
Speaking to the media, Minister Harichandan highlighted the government’s focus on balancing temple rituals with devotee convenience in implementing the queue system. He also noted that comprehensive development efforts for Shrikhetra (Puri) have been reviewed in two phases. Some projects have already started, while others were stalled due to legal hurdles, with ongoing efforts to resolve them. A review meeting was held in September, and another is scheduled for November 11 to monitor progress continuously.
Post-Kartik, the queue darshan will kick off, and the Ratna Bhandar inventory will follow immediately after the SOP arrives. Notably, following conservation and repair works, the refurbished Ratna Bhandar received a fresh facelift, with all valuable ornaments and items transferred back on September 23. The temple was subsequently cleaned and reopened for public darshan, as informed by Shrimandir Chief Administrator Dr. Arabind Padhi.
During the transfer, members of the Ratna Bhandar Committee and high-level committee, dressed in traditional attire, entered the Jagamohan after seeking Lord Jagannath’s blessings. The process was videographed for transparency. After relocating the treasures, both the inner and outer vaults were secured with three locks each. Following the sealing, all members offered darshan to Mahaprabhu.
