By Our Correspondent
PURI:The Sri Jagannath Temple Management Committee had decided to open the Ratnabhandara during the Rath Yatra last year (2024) for the purpose of renovation and conservation of the inner jewels of the temple. The state government approved this and constituted a high-level committee under the chairmanship of Justice Biswanath Rath, a retired judge of the Orissa High Court, to assist the Management Committee. The state government had also issued specific guidelines for the entire process.
During the Srigundicha Yatra of 2024, on the evening darshan day, July 14, the Ratnabhandar was opened and first all the ornaments and materials of the outer Ratnabhandar were shifted to Changada Ghar as a temporary outer store. Then the inner Ratnabhandar was opened after many years. Since the lock of the inner Ratnabhandar could not be opened with the key received from the district treasury, the authorized members of the committee broke the lock and entered as per the instructions.
But the transfer of the inner Ratnabhandar ornaments and materials was time-consuming that day and the Bahuda Yatra was scheduled for the next day, so it was postponed. After this, on July 18, 2024, the inner Ratnabhandar was opened again and all the ornaments and materials were shifted to the Khatshej house, which was just ten feet away as a temporary inner store or strongroom. All the work was completed in the presence of the magistrate, the lock was sealed and the key was kept in the treasury. In the presence of the authorized members of the committee, all The process was also videographed.
Thereafter, on 23-08-2024, as per the guidelines of the State Government, the empty cupboards and chests of both the vaults were shifted and kept in a room near the Niladri Vihar Museum in the Shrimandir premises. The entire process of the above day was also videographed.
The next step was the conservation and restoration of the treasury. On September 18, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) conducted a preliminary inspection of the treasury. Subsequently, on September 21 and 22, the ASI conducted a detailed scientific and technical survey of the treasury. As per the guidelines, the survey was conducted keeping in mind the possibility of any unseen chambers, storage areas, underground tunnels, etc. in the treasury. While using equipment for the survey conducted by scientific means, the ASI was asked to also respect the culture and tradition of the temple, following which the ASI conducted the survey and submitted the report.
Based on the scientific survey report of ASI, the repair and conservation work of the Ratnabhandara was carried out regularly from 17th December 2024, excluding the days of Shrijiu’s policy. This work was completed on 7th July 2025. This conservation work was carried out by ASI for a period of 95 days, for about 333 hours.
After this, as per the decision of the Ratnabhandar Sub-Committee of the newly formed Management Committee, on Tuesday, September 23rd, all the ornaments and materials, preserved from the temporary storage or strongroom, are going to be shifted to the newly renovated main Ratnabhandar.
By the immense mercy of the Lord, all the processes have been carried out with transparency and in accordance with the government’s guidelines.
