First-day inner chamber inventory of Puri’s Ratna Bhandar concludes

The first day of the inner chamber inventory of Lord Jagannath’s Ratna Bhandar at the Puri temple concluded on Monday under strict security arrangements, marking a key stage in the multi-phase audit of the shrine’s centuries-old treasury.

Officials said the exercise, being conducted after a gap of 48 years , involves the systematic documentation of gold, silver, diamonds, gems, and other sacred ornaments preserved inside the inner sanctum, which remains inaccessible to devotees.

The inventory is being carried out in structured phases, following completion of earlier rounds covering daily-use ornaments and the outer treasury (Bahara Bhandar) . Recent reports from the outer chamber indicated an increase in recorded items compared to the 1978 inventory , with 147 ornaments documented against 118 earlier, while a few items were reportedly untraceable and expected to be verified in the inner chamber.

The ongoing exercise is being conducted under a strict Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) approved by the state government, involving magistrates, temple authorities, gemologists, goldsmiths, and specialised security teams. Access to the chamber is tightly controlled, with multi-layer security deployment and escort protocols for keys drawn from the district treasury.

According to the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) , the inner chamber was opened in the presence of authorised officials, and all valuables are being cross-verified with 1978 records . Experts are also assessing composition and authenticity of precious stones.

The entire process is being documented through videography, photography, and 3D mapping , with a digital catalogue being prepared for permanent records.

The Ratna Bhandar inventory, resumed after restoration by ASI, will continue in scheduled phases till April 18, with a break for Mahabishuba Sankranti , while ensuring uninterrupted temple rituals and darshan from designated barricaded areas.