BHUBANESWAR: A decision on reopening of Ratna Bhandar (treasure trove) of Lord Jagannath’s Srimandir in Odisha’s Puri will be taken on July 9, informed Justice Biswanath Rath, head of a high-level committee which was formed on June 4 to supervise the exercise.The committee, apart from supervising the reopening of Ratna Bhandar, will also see repair of Ratna Bhandar and inventory of valuables stored in it.Rath made it clear that the duplicate keys of the Ratna Bhandar have been kept in the treasury and the chief administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) will present the keys before the high-level committee in the meeting to be held on July 9.Justice Rath further informed that Ratna Bhandar will be opened by breaking the locks if the keys do not work.According to Rath, a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) will be prepared in this regard and it will be presented before the government.“Priority will be given to the rituals and the darshan of the devotees. Apart from the inventory of valuables, the repair work of Ratna Bhandar is also important. Repairing work could not be done by keeping the ornaments inside Ratna Bhandar and hence shifting is required. The managing committee will decide where the ornaments will be shifted and how it will be kept there,” said Rath.He informed that another committee will be formed to prepare the modalities for the inventory of valuables.“We will not be able to identify the ornaments. Hence, a sub-committee will be formed for the work. It took more than 70 days to complete the counting work last time. This time it is expected that the work will be completed earlier due to the availability of advanced technology. We will only suggest who will be in charge of the inventory work. We are hopeful that all the ornaments will be shifted and the repairing work of Ratna Bhandar will start before the return of the deities to Srimandir,” added Justice Rath.Ratna Bhandar was last opened for examination of the inventory in 1978.In the affidavit submitted by the SJTA, it has also been mentioned that there are three chambers in the Ratna Bhandar. The ornaments kept in the inner chamber are never used. Similarly, the ornaments of the outer chamber are used on the occasions of festivals. And for the daily rituals of the deities, the ornaments kept in the current chamber are used.As per the affidavit, the inner chamber has 50 kilograms 600 grams gold and 134 kilograms and 50 grams silver. While the outer chamber contains 95 kilograms and 320 grams of gold and 19 kilograms 480 grams silver, the current chamber has 3 kilograms 480 grams gold and 30 kilograms and 350 grams silver.
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