Counting Process Underway from Today
The inventory and counting of valuables inside the Ratna Bhandar of the Shree Jagannath Temple has commenced from today on the auspicious occasion of Chaitra Shukla Saptami. A special team has entered the temple premises to carry out the process smoothly.
Authorities have prepared a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to ensure that the counting of ornaments does not disrupt daily rituals or devotees’ darshan.
Strict SOP to Ensure Smooth Rituals and Darshan
During the counting process, all daily rituals of the deities will continue without interruption. Only authorized servitors will be allowed entry into the Jagamohan and sanctum for ritual purposes.
However, for security reasons, public darshan from inside the temple will remain restricted. Devotees will be allowed darshan only from outside designated areas.
Matching with 1978 Inventory Records
After counting, the ornaments will be cross-verified with the inventory list prepared in 1978, the last time a detailed assessment was conducted. Along with verification, all items will be weighed and documented.
To ensure accuracy, two professional gemologists have been appointed, and digital photography of each ornament will also be carried out.
Secure Storage and Categorisation of Ornaments
Once identification, counting, and weighing are completed, the ornaments will be wrapped in multiple layers and stored securely in six specially prepared chests.
Gold ornaments will be placed on yellow cloth, silver items on white cloth, and other valuables on red cloth before being systematically stored. The process involves temple servitors, bank officials, gemologists, and RBI representatives.
Temple Administration Seeks Cooperation
Chief Administrator Dr. Arabinda Padhee has appealed to all servitors, officials, and devotees to cooperate in ensuring the smooth execution of this crucial exercise.
Significant Quantity of Gold and Silver
As per data submitted by the state government in the High Court in July 2023, the Ratna Bhandar houses approximately 149.46 kg of gold and around 184.84 kg of silver ornaments.
The valuables are stored across three categories:
- Inner Ratna Bhandar (Category 1)
- Outer Ratna Bhandar (Category 2)
- Movable Ratna Bhandar (Category 3)
Each category serves different purposes, ranging from daily rituals to special festivals.
Detailed Break-Up of Ornaments
Estimates indicate:
- Inner chamber holds around 50.6 kg of gold and 134.05 kg of silver
- Outer chamber contains about 95.32 kg of gold and 19.48 kg of silver
- Movable treasury includes approximately 3.48 kg of gold and 30.35 kg of silver
Historical Records and Previous Openings
The last comprehensive inventory was conducted in 1978, documenting 454 gold ornaments weighing around 12,838 bhari and 293 silver items weighing approximately 22,153 bhari.
The inner Ratna Bhandar was also opened in 1982 and 1985 for specific purposes, including temple works and rituals.
A Long-Awaited Exercise
After decades, this renewed inventory process is considered highly significant for transparency, documentation, and preservation of the temple’s priceless heritage.