Ratna Bhandar to be opened for inspection on April 4: SJTA Chief

Puri: Ratna Bhandar of Puri Srimandir will be opened for inspection on April 4, informed Chief Administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), Pradeep Jena today.

“It has been decided that on April 4, Wednesday, after the second Bhoga Mandap, the Ratna Bhandar will be opened for inspection of its ceiling and walls. The procedures mentioned in the Satwalipi (record of rights) will be followed strictly. We have also decided to bar ‘darshan’ by devotees during the inspection,” said Jena.

“The designated team authorized to enter the Ratna Bhandar will immediately prepare, sign and submit a detailed report to me after completing the inspection,” he added.

It was decided at the Chhatisa Nijog meeting on March 29 that the 10-member team authorized to enter the Ratna Bhandar will include representative of Puri Gajapati, Pattajoshi Mohapatra, Bhandar Mekap, Tadau Karan and Deula Karan, two engineers of ASI, two officials of ASI's technical core committee - GC Mitra and NC Pal and representative of Orissa High Court, Justice NK Mohanty.

The Chief Administrator further informed that the team will take oath before entering the Ratna Bhandar to not divulge the details of what they saw inside.