India
Judge Rath also commented on the reports regarding the presence of snakes inside the chamber, reported news agency IANS. He refuted the reports and myths around the Ratna Bhandar.
Updated : Jul 15, 2024, 04:23 PM IST
The Ratna Bhandar, also called the revered treasury, at Lord Jagannath temple in Puri, Odisha, was reopened on Sunday. The state government comprised a team of 11 members to conduct the inventory of valuables in the Bhitar Bhandar (Inner Treasury) and Bahar Treasury (Outer Treasury). The doors of it were opened after 46 years.
Odisha High Court judge Biswanath Rath, after visiting the inner chamber treasury, said in an interview that the team could enter the premises after “cutting the locks in the presence of the magistrate and others.”
Judge Rath also commented on the reports regarding the presence of snakes inside the chamber, reported news agency IANS. He refuted the reports and myths around the Ratna Bhandar.
“As seven to eight members of temple management are part of the team, they are busy as the Bahuda Yatra preparations have started, so we couldn't get more time for further checking and shifting of the ornaments. So we decided to fix another date for the shifting of the ornaments and precious stones of the deities,” Judge Rath said.
Arabninda Padhee, the chief administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), asserted that the jewellery stored in the outer treasury had been moved to a “ temporary strong room inside the temple premises and was sealed in presence of a magistrate.”
He added, "We entered the outer chamber of the Ratna Bhandar after opening the locks with the keys kept with Gajapati Maharaj, the king of Puri, SJTA and the Bhandar Mekap servitor.”
On this auspicious occasion, the Chief Minister's Office also posted a statement on X (Formerly Twitter).
He said, "On the wish of Lord Jagannath, the Odia community, with the identity of 'Odia Asmita', has started making efforts to move forward. On your wish, the four gates of the Jagannath temples were earlier opened. Today, on your wish, the Ratna Bhandar was opened after 46 years for a greater purpose.”