Bhubaneswar: The inventory of ornaments, precious gemstones and other valuables stored in the inner chamber of the Ratna Bhandar of the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri continued for the 17th day on September 1, with officials matching the items against the inventory prepared in 1978.
The exercise continued for nearly eight hours and 23 minutes on Tuesday, beginning after the completion of the Sakala Dhupa ritual at around 11.30 am and concluding at 7.53 pm. The inventory team examined and identified precious stones, including diamonds, sapphires, pearls and rubies, as part of the ongoing exercise.
The process is being carried out under the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) approved by the Odisha government and under strict CCTV surveillance. A magistrate, members of the high-level committee and other authorised personnel are present during the exercise to ensure transparency and accountability.
Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Chief Administrator Dr Arabinda Kumar Padhee said the inventory was being conducted carefully, with accuracy and transparency being given priority over completing the exercise within a fixed deadline.
“The inventory process is being conducted transparently and flawlessly. The entire exercise is being carried out under CCTV surveillance, with only authorised persons allowed inside. Photography, videography and 3D mapping are also being undertaken,” Padhee said.
According to the temple administration, five of the six cupboards located inside the inner Ratna Bhandar have so far been covered under the inventory exercise.
The administration is also undertaking scientific cataloguing of the ornaments and valuables. The use of certified gemmologists has become an important part of the exercise as several ornaments contain precious gemstones that require expert identification and classification.
Officials said the identification and examination of individual gemstones is a time-consuming process. Since stones such as diamonds, blue sapphires, pearls and rubies have been embedded in the ornaments, experts need considerable time to identify and record each item accurately.
The involvement of gemmologists is also significant because experts in the field were reportedly not engaged during the previous inventory conducted in 1978. Officials have said that a number of gemstones could not be properly audited during the earlier exercise due to the absence of specialised expertise.
The present inventory team includes experts associated with the Reserve Bank of India, gemmologists, jewellers, photographers and other authorised personnel. The entire process is being documented through photography, videography and 3D mapping to create a comprehensive record of the valuables.
Wooden boxes to be replaced
Meanwhile, the administration has begun preparations to deal with three wooden boxes stored inside the Ratna Bhandar. Measurements of the boxes were taken on Monday, based on which new boxes will be manufactured.
After the ornaments and gemstones kept inside the wooden boxes are counted, they will be shifted to the newly prepared boxes.
Officials said the limited space inside the Ratna Bhandar makes it difficult to open the wooden boxes and conduct the counting process there
SJTA Chief Administrator Padhee said members of the high-level committee, headed by Justice Biswanath Rath, authorised servitors, Chhatisha Niyog Nayak, Tadhaukaran, Deulakaran, Bhandar Mekap Sevak, members of the management committee and other authorised personnel were cooperating with the inventory process.
The counting and valuation of ornaments and valuables in the inner chamber resumed on Monday as part of the latest phase of the inventory. According to the SJTA, the present exercise is being conducted in stages in accordance with the government-approved SOP.
During the inventory exercise, restrictions have been imposed on movement inside the temple. Devotees have been allowed to have darshan of the deities from the Bahara Katha, the outer barricaded area inside the temple, so that the inventory work can continue without disrupting the regular rituals of the deities.
The administration has emphasised that special care is being taken to ensure that the daily rituals of Bhagwan Jagannath,Bhagwan Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra remain unaffected.
Focus on accuracy rather than deadline
The SJTA has maintained that there is no fixed deadline for completing the inventory, as the administration wants to ensure that every item is properly examined and recorded.
Padhee said it would be difficult to estimate the exact time required to complete the process because the identification of precious gemstones and detailed documentation were taking considerable time.
“We are focusing on accuracy and transparency rather than completing the process in a hurried manner,” he said.
The administration is also carrying out scientific cataloguing and 3D mapping of the jewellery and other valuables. The exercise is intended to create a detailed and systematic record that can serve as a reference for future generations.
The administration has stated that the SOP contains several provisions aimed at strengthening the safety and security of the Ratna Bhandar and preserving the valuables for the next 100 years.
1978 inventory serves as reference
The ornaments and valuables stored in the Ratna Bhandar were last comprehensively counted and valued in 1978. That exercise reportedly continued for 72 days.
The latest inventory process began on March 24, 2026, and was subsequently resumed on May 11. The phase that began in May continued for nine days and concluded on May 30. The exercise is now being conducted in different stages under the approved SOP.
As the third phase resumed on Monday, the SJTA said the current inventory was being undertaken with the 1978 inventory list as a reference point.
Officials have clarified that the present stage primarily involves counting and identification. The valuation of the valuables has not yet begun.
Once the inventory process is completed, the findings will be placed before the managing committee of the 12th-century temple for consideration and approval. The state government will subsequently take a decision on whether the detailed inventory of the valuables should be made public.
The Ratna Bhandar and the safety of the valuables stored inside have remained an important issue in Odisha’s public and political discourse, particularly since the 2024 Assembly elections. The BJP had raised questions over the security of the temple treasury during the election campaign and subsequently formed the government in Odisha after defeating the Biju Janata Dal.
AC facility introduced in Nata Mandap
In another important development aimed at improving the experience of devotees, the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration has introduced air-conditioning facilities in the Nata Mandap of the temple.
The facility became operational on Monday and is expected to provide relief to devotees who wait for darshan in the area, particularly during the hot and humid summer months.
The Nata Mandap, or dancing hall, is an important part of the temple complex and is located adjacent to the Jagamohan. Devotees use the area while waiting for darshan of Bhagwan Jagannath, Bhagwan Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra.
SJTA Chief Administrator Dr Arabinda Kumar Padhee said the initiative was aimed at reducing the difficulties faced by devotees who often have to spend considerable time waiting for darshan.
“Some years ago, ACs were installed in the Jagamohan, which is a darshan space facing the sanctum sanctorum. With the new installation in the Nata Mandap, adjacent to the Jagamohan, devotees will find it much more convenient,” Padhee said.
The proposal to install air conditioners in the Nata Mandap had been approved by the SJTA in October 2024. The facility has now been made available for devotees.
The move has been welcomed by devotees, particularly those who have to wait in long queues during periods of intense heat and humidity. With the temple attracting a large number of devotees throughout the year, the administration expects the facility to make the waiting and darshan experience more comfortable.
The air-conditioning facility is particularly significant during the summer months, when temperatures and humidity levels in Puri can make prolonged waiting inside the temple premises difficult for elderly devotees, children and others.
The administration’s latest measures reflect its broader effort to improve arrangements for devotees while maintaining the sanctity and continuity of the temple’s traditional rituals.
