The first phase of the long-awaited inventory and documentation of the sacred Ratna Bhandar (treasure trove) of Shree Jagannath Temple has been successfully completed, with the counting of ornaments in the Chalanti Bhandar (movable or current treasury) now finished.
Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Chief Administrator Dr Arabinda Kumar Padhee announced today that the verification process for all ornaments kept in the Chalanti Bhandar has been concluded. However, a few ornaments currently adorning the deities — including the Rahu Rekha and Ratnachita of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra — could not be counted at this stage. These will be documented in the subsequent phase once the rituals allow their removal.
Padhee stated that the entire exercise was carried out with the 1978 inventory list serving as the primary reference document to maintain complete accuracy and transparency. Each ornament was subjected to meticulous documentation, which included:
– Precise counting and weight measurement
– High-resolution photography
– 3D laser mapping
Following verification, all ornaments were handed back to the traditional custodians — the Bhandar Mekap sevayats.
“The next phase will cover the Bahara Ratna Bhandar (outer treasury). The date for this will be announced well in advance,” Padhee added.
The entire process was conducted strictly in accordance with the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) approved by the Odisha state government. This marks the first comprehensive inventory of the Ratna Bhandar in nearly 48 years and is being hailed as a historic step towards greater transparency in the management of the temple’s priceless treasures.
