The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) announced that the ongoing inventory of the Ratna Bhandar, the temple’s treasure vault, has been temporarily suspended and will resume in June.
The counting process scheduled for May 23 will continue, but from May 24, the exercise will pause due to intense heatwave conditions, heavy devotee inflow, and upcoming major rituals, including Snana Purnima and Rath Jatra preparations.
Officials said the inventory, conducted under a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), resumed on May 11 after a pause during Chandana Jatra rituals. So far, the team has logged 57 hours and 8 minutes of counting, documenting over 120 ornaments from the inner chamber—about 20 per cent of the total work.
The exercise, which began on March 25, involves temple servitors, officials, gemologists, bank personnel, and Reserve Bank of India representatives. Each item is weighed, identified, digitally documented, and packed securely. Gold, silver, and other valuables are categorised in colour-coded containers for long-term preservation.
Committee meetings, including those of the Chhattisa Nijog, will be held in the coming week to plan the next phase.
