BHUBANESWAR: The Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee (SJTMC) has approved revised guidelines and a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for opening the Ratna Bhandar of the 12th-century Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri and conducting a detailed inventory of the valuables stored inside. The newly approved proposal will now be forwarded to the Odisha government for formal consent, after which an auspicious date will be chosen for the opening of the temple treasury.
The decision was taken during a high-level meeting of the SJTMC held in Puri under the chairmanship of Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb, the titular king of Puri and head of the temple’s managing body.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Chief Administrator Arabinda Padhee said that the committee has finalised an 11-page SOP for the inventory and verification of the Bhagwan’s jewellery and other valuables stored in the Ratna Bhandar.
“The SJTMC has approved the SOP for the inventory of the Ratna Bhandar. The proposal has been informed to the state government, and once we receive approval, the inventory work will begin on an auspicious day,” Padhee stated.
He noted that the previous inventory of the Ratna Bhandar was conducted 48 years ago, in 1978, and the new exercise will tally the valuables against records prepared during that period. He further assured that the counting and verification process will be conducted inside the treasury without disrupting the temple’s daily rituals.
To ensure transparency and security, the entire inventory process will be conducted under CCTV surveillance, and all valuables will be digitally documented. Emphasis has been laid on maintaining the sanctity of traditional temple rituals throughout the process. During the inventory period, devotees will be allowed to have darshan of the deities from the Baharkatha area, the SJTA Chief Administrator added.
The committee also announced that a new Ratna Pallanka, the ceremonial bed for the deities, has been prepared and will be installed on an auspicious day.
In a significant move aimed at strengthening discipline and preserving the sanctity of the shrine, the SJTMC decided to impose a complete ban on the use of mobile phones inside the temple premises, including by servitors and temple staff. The committee has also resolved to prohibit photography in the inner portion of the temple.
Padhee said the Managing Committee has urged the state government to introduce stricter punitive measures to prevent the use of mobile phones and video recording within the temple complex.
The meeting further approved steps to regulate the temple’s VIP protocol darshan and improve accessibility for persons with disabilities, ensuring smoother and more inclusive darshan arrangements.
Addressing recent public concern over increased parking fees at the temple-managed Bhakta Nibas accommodations in Puri, the committee decided to reduce the parking charges to Rs 240. The move aims to align the fee with the state government’s nearby Shree Jagannath Ballav parking facility.
“It was decided that the parking fee should be at par with the nearby government parking space. We received objections from various quarters regarding the hefty charges announced earlier,” Padhee explained.
The SJTMC also reviewed the temple complex’s infrastructure and visitor facilities. It is informed that structural defects in the Natamandap ramp have been rectified, ensuring safe and hassle-free darshan for devotees. The committee also approved a proposal to air-condition the temple’s historic Nata Mandap (dancing hall) for improved comfort.
In another key decision, the Managing Committee cancelled the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Birla Foundation for establishing an Adarsh Gurukul school for the children of temple servitors. The committee said that a fresh MoU will be signed with another organisation for the same purpose. Land for the proposed school has already been acquired at Matitota in Puri.
The committee also announced that the Shree Gundicha Temple, considered the birthplace of Bhagwan Jagannath, will soon reopen to devotees. It has set a nominal entry fee of Rs 10 per visitor, with children and persons with disabilities exempted. Free facilities for footwear and mobile phone storage will also be provided by the temple administration.
Additionally, the committee resolved to consult the Sankaracharya of Puri Gobardhan Peetha before installing the Dasabatar statues on the Simhadwar arch.
Padhee further stated that, as per benchmark valuation, the Shree Jagannath Temple will receive Rs 35 crore as compensation for land provided to the state-run Jagannath Medical College and Hospital.
It may be noted that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which is the custodian of the 12th-century shrine, completed the repair work of the Ratna Bhandar treasury in August last year. The treasury was reopened in 2024 after nearly four decades for renovation and inventory-related preparations.
The SJTMC emphasised that all decisions taken in the meeting are aimed at ensuring better management, conservation, and welfare of servitors, while safeguarding the religious and cultural heritage of the world-famous Shree Jagannath Temple.
