PURI, Sep 18: The jewelry and ornaments of Lord Jagannath and other deities will be shifted from temporary strong rooms to the original Ratna Bhandars (temple treasury) of the 12th-century shrine on September 23, officials said.
Chief Administrator of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), Arabind Padhee, said the transfer would take place during an auspicious period from 7:17 AM to 11:17 AM. Darshan of the deities will remain closed to devotees during this time.
The shifting will be carried out as per the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) laid down by the state government, with the participation of all nine members of the Ratna Bhandar Sub-Committee and two members of the Ratna Bhandar Inspection Committee, headed by Justice Biswanath Rath.
In 2024, ahead of the Ratna Bhandar opening, the state government had formed an 11-member committee under Justice Rath to oversee related issues. Under its supervision, the Bahar and Bhitar Ratna Bhandars were opened on July 16 and 19, 2024, and the ornaments were temporarily shifted to two designated strong rooms.
The Ratna Bhandars were later handed over to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) for repairs and conservation on December 17, 2024. Using advanced non-invasive tools such as deep scan and ground-penetrating radars, ASI experts identified and repaired the damaged portions over a three-month period.
During the upcoming shifting, only designated servitors on duty will be allowed inside the temple to ensure daily rituals continue smoothly. Their names will be submitted to the Superintendent of Police. While devotees may enter the temple premises, entry to the Natamandap and Bhitarkath areas will remain restricted.
After the transfer, a fresh inventory of the ornaments will be prepared and compared with the 1978 record, Padhee said.
(UNI)
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