Puri (Odisha) [India], July 17 (ANI): Puri Collector Siddharth Shankar Swain said on Wednesday that the temporary transfer of ornaments from the inner chamber of the Ratna Bhandar (Treasure Trove) of the Shri Jagannath Temple to the Treasury set up will take place between the time periods of 9:51 am and 12:15 pm on Thursday.
He further stated that a group of 11 members who were responsible for the inventorization of the valuables in Ratna Bhandar will enter the chamber to carry out the temporary transfer.
“Our group of 11 members will enter the inner chamber of the Ratna Bhandar and will open it again between 9:51 am and 12:15 pm on Thursday, to transfer ornaments to a temporary treasury set up,” Swain said.
On Sunday, July 14, the Ratna Bhandar of the Shri Jagannath Temple was re-opened after over four decades.
Justice Biswanath Rath, Inspection Committee Chairman, said that the outer bhandar was opened today, but the authorities will try after 5-6 days to open the inner bhandar.
“We have just visualised the position there. Since we were there for five hours and did not have time, we thought it was appropriate to reseal it using new locks. We have decided that we will be sitting after 5-6 days to get inside the inner Bhandar and to take stock of the ornaments,” he said.
He also mentioned that two sets of videography have been taken for record purposes.
The Chief Administrator of Shree Jagannatha Temple Office, Arabinda Kumar Padhee, said that all the valuables from the outer bhandar were shifted to the temporary strong room on Sunday.
“The outer Ratna Bandar was opened at the beginning. All the valuables were shifted to the temporary strong room. Thereafter, we opened the inner Ratna Bhandar as well. As per the SOP, we broke open the lock of the inner Ratna Bhandar, and then all the members went around the inner store of valuables. The videography recordings are only for our record purposes, not for any publicity or any media purpose,” Padhee said.
The Ratna Bhandar of the Shri Jagannath Temple was opened following Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) issued by the Odisha government. On Saturday, July 13, the Odisha government gave approval for the opening of the Ratna Bhandar for carrying out the inventorization of valuables, including pieces of jewellery stored there.
To commemorate this occasion, the Office of the Chief Minister of Odisha, taking to X, said, “Jai Jagannath Oh Lord! You are rhythmic. The whole world is oppressed by your desire. You are the heartbeat of the orthodox nation… The four doors of the temple were first opened at your will. Today, after 46 years of your will, the gem was opened with a great purpose…I strongly believe that this great work will be successful.”
Special boxes were also brought to Shri Jagannath Temple ahead of the re-opening of ‘Ratna Bhandar’. (ANI)
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