Ratna Bhandar Inventory Resumes at Jagannath Temple with Modern Documentation

Officials said the exercise will be carried out in stages and the current tour will continue until April 11. The process will then continue from April 13 to April 18 as part of a comprehensive verification exercise aimed at creating a verified record of the temple’s valuables.

Access to the inner sanctum will remain restricted during the counting period. However, devotees will still be allowed to have darshan of the outer sanctum to ensure religious practices continue with minimal disruption.

The inventory includes treasures stored in the outer room, including golden ornaments and ceremonial robes related to Lord Jagannath, revered as ‘Rajarajeshwar’. Given the age and fragility of many parts, officials said the process is being carried out with extreme caution and may take longer than initially anticipated.

In a significant departure from past practices, officials used modern technologies such as 3D mapping, high-resolution photography and videography to document every phase of the exercise. This move comes in the background of long-standing public demand for transparency, accountability and scientific preservation of temple assets; these issues have featured prominently in previous administrative reviews and media reports.

Once completed, the census will focus on the structural restoration and safe preservation of the Ratna Bhandar chambers, aligning with broader efforts to preserve the temple’s heritage infrastructure.

Meanwhile, Srimandir Chief Administrator Arabinda Padhee said that three new ‘Ratna Palankas’ (ornate ceremonial platforms) have been constructed for the deities. “Senior servants guided their design and use. Ivory components from old palanques were carefully incorporated into the new structures,” he said.