Historic Day! Puri Jagannath Temple Ratna Bhandar opened after 46 years

In a historic occasion for Odisha, the Ratna Bhandar of the 12th-century Puri Srimandir was finally opened at after 46 years. The treasury housing invaluable ornaments, was unlocked at the auspicious time (Subha Bela) of 1:28 PM on Sunday i.e. July 14.

The outer chamber of the Ratna Bhandar was opened first, it was learned. Special boxes were brought to the temple to shift the ornaments to a temporary strong room. Efforts were also underway to open the inner chamber.

As per reports, the inspection of the Ratna Bhandar will be done today, marking a significant event in the temple's governance and historical preservation efforts.

CM Mohan Majhi took to social media and expressed his joy at the opening of the treasure trove of Lord Jagannath. Taking to X handle, Majhi offered prayers to Lord Jagannath seeking blessings for the 4.5 crore people of Odisha. He also expressed his confidence that the endeavour and the noble purpose behind opening the Ratna Bhandar will be a great success. 

As per reports, a total of 11 members entered the Ratna Bhandar including two from the inspection Committee to oversee the opening of the treasure trove. 

Among the 11 people who entered the temple to reopen its revered treasury are former Orissa HC judge Biswanath Rath, Shree Jagannath Temple Administrator (SJTA) chief administrator Arabinda Padhee, ASI Superintendent DB Gadanayak and a representative of Puri’s titular king Gajapati Maharaja.

The SJTA led by the chief administrator is overseeing the operation.

After coming out of Srimandir, Puri SP Pinak Mishra said, “There is a standard operating procedure (SOP) for every aspect of the work. Everything is being carried on as per those SOPs.”

“After having darshan of Lord Lokanath, Maa Bimala and Maa Lakshmi, I am going to Gundicha temple to have a darshan of Lord Jagannath. I will pray to Him to get His work done smoothly,” said Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan after coming out of the Srimandir.   

When asked about the details of the progress achieved so far, he said the team that has gone inside will provide details after coming out.

Colonies of bats fly out towards ‘Baisi Pahacha’ 

As the Ratna Bhandar was opened, a large number of bats were seen flying out towards ‘Baisi Pahacha’ and going out of Srimandir through the Lion Gate. The same scene was said to have been witnessed when the Ratna Bhandar was opened last time. These nocturnal birds are generally found inside ancient temples and closed houses. So it is presumed that they were inside the Ratna Bhandar which had been closed for 46 years. Some observed the flying of bats as a good sign for the ongoing process of opening the Ratna Bhandar.

Repair of Ratna Bhandar, need of hour 

Sand Artist and member of the Ratna Bhandar Inspection Committee Sudarsan Pattnaik said  "I had been demanding that the repair work of the Ratna Bhandar should be started before the onset of the rainy season. Now the government has also decided to carry out the repair of the Ratna Bhandar on a priority basis. The ASI team is ready to start their work. Some days ago, Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb, who is the chairman of the managing committee, had also laid emphasis on the repair of the Ratna Bhandar. Feeling the necessity of repair, the government has taken such a big decision. I would like to thank the Prime Minister and the and the state government for keeping their promise."

Historic day for Lord Jagannath devotees: BJP National VP & Kendrapara MP Baijayant Panda

In an X post, BJP National Vice President and Kendrapara MP Baijayant Panda termed the opening of the Ratna Bhandar as historic.  

“Today is a historic day for all Jagannath lovers across the world. Today, after 46 long years, Mahaprabhu’s Ratna Bhandar, the symbol of Odia Asmita, has been opened and this is certainly a welcome step. Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised that if the BJP government came to power in Odisha, we would open the Ratna Bhandar and make its report public, and today, with the blessings of the Lord, the Odisha government has fulfilled the promise by opening the Ratna Bhandar. Modi's guarantee means a guarantee to fulfil all promises,” read his post in Odia.

ଆଜିର ଦିନ ବିଶ୍ୱର ସମସ୍ତ ଜଗନ୍ନାଥ ପ୍ରେମୀଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ଏକ ଐତିହାସିକ ଦିନ। ଦୀର୍ଘ ୪୬ ବର୍ଷ ପରେ ଆଜି ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଜାତିର ଅସ୍ମିତାର ପରିଚୟ ମହାପ୍ରଭୁଙ୍କ ରତ୍ନ ଭଣ୍ଡାର ଖୋଲା ହୋଇଛି ଏବଂ ନିଶ୍ଚିତ ଭାବରେ ଏହା ଏକ ସ୍ବାଗତଯୋଗ୍ୟ ପଦକ୍ଷେପ। ଓଡ଼ିଶାରେ ବିଜେପି ସରକାର ଆସିଲେ ଆମେ ରତ୍ନ ଭଣ୍ଡାର ଖୋଲି ଏହାର ରିପୋର୍ଟ ସାର୍ବଜନୀନ କରିବୁ ବୋଲି… pic.twitter.com/JBLpNmEphC

— Baijayant Jay Panda (@PandaJay) July 14, 2024

Three locks broken to enter inner Ratna Bhandar: Arabinda Padhee 

After coming out of Srimandir, Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) chief administrator Arabinda Padhee informed journalists that all three locks of the ‘Bhitara Ratna Bhandar’ had to be broken as they couldn’t be opened with the key provided by the district Collector. 

“After opening the lock of the ‘Bahara Ratna Bhandar’ (outer treasury), all the ornaments of the deities were completely shifted to the temporary strong room. In the presence of the magistrate and ‘bhandar mekap’ servitors, the strong room was sealed after the necessary record of the ornaments. It took a lot of time. Then we went to the gate of the ‘Bhitara Ratna Bhandar’ (inner treasury). We tried to open the three locks with the key provided by the Collector from the treasury but failed. The state government has clearly mentioned in the SOP that if the locks can’t be opened with the key, they can be broken. So, following the SOP, all the three locks were broken in the presence of the magistrate,” he said  

“The committee members went into the inner treasury. We could see there were almirahs and chests. As it was already too late by then and tomorrow is the ‘Bahuda Yatra’, all of us came to a consensus that it wouldn’t be possible to shift the ornaments to the temporary ‘Bhitara Ratna Bhandar’ today. We will do it another day. After shifting the ornaments, the ASI will carry out renovation of the inner treasury. Once the renovation work is completed, the ornaments will be brought back to it and the inventory will be carried out there,” he added.

Another date will be fixed: Justice Biswanath Rath 

‘We have decided to reopen the inner 'Ratna Bhandar’ any day after the ‘Bahuda Yatra’. We will sit again to decide the date,” said Justice Biswanath Rath, chairman of the Ratna Bhandar Inspection Committee.