Odisha Government Set to Reopen Jagannath Temple's Treasure Vault After 46 Years

The Odisha government will reopen the 'Ratna Bhandar', Jagannath temple's treasury, on Sunday after 46 years for an inventory of the ornaments and valuables. The process will be supervised by high-level committees and include digital documentation. The inventory aims to be completed swiftly using technology.

In a historic move, the Odisha government will reopen the 'Ratna Bhandar', the revered treasure vault of the Jagannath temple in Puri, on Sunday after 46 years. The controversial vault was last opened in 1978.

Announcing this decision on Saturday evening, the state's law minister, Harichandan, said, 'Ending the long wait of Jagannath devotees, we are going to reopen the 'Ratna Bhandar' tomorrow for inventory. We will examine the ornaments and valuables in the treasury.' Harichandan elaborated that standard operating procedures (SOPs) ratified by a high-level committee have been approved by the government.

The inventory of Lord Jagannath's jewels will feature digital photography and documentation for future reference. Various expert teams, including representatives from the RBI and ASI, will ensure transparency and efficiency. While the last inventory process took over 70 days, the current administration aims to complete it in a shorter time, aided by technology.