Ratna Bhandar of Lord Jagannath’s Srimandir Will Be Opened Soon: Odisha CM

 Bhubaneswar: Ratna Bhandar or the treasury of Lord Jagannath’s Srimandir at Odisha’s Puri, will be opened soon. After it is opened, the government will conduct re-enumeration of the jewellery and gemstones stored in it. If there has been any wrongdoing with it by any persons, the state government will take appropriate actions against them, declared Odisha chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Sunday.

While addressing the Vijaya Utsav Samavesh of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) organised here at the Exhibition Ground to felicitate the newly elected party Lok Sabha members and Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs), the CM said the opening of Ratna Bhandar was a long-standing demand of the people of Odisha and his government was committed to honour it.

“There has been long-standing demand for the opening of Lord Jagannath’s Ratna Bhandar which has been under lock and key for a long time. Our government will take steps for its early opening. Any wrongdoing by anybody will be dealt with in accordance with law,” said the CM.

As per an affidavit submitted in the High Court of Orissa by the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), Ratna Bhandar or treasury of Lord Jagannath’s Srimandir, has 149. Kilograms of 460 gold and 184 kilograms of silver jewellery.

SJTA is the governing body that looks after the day-to-today administration of Srimandir.

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.

The CM also warned those who looted the minerals in the previous government in Odisha.

“Those who have looted minerals and taken percentage from different work contracts at the cost of the state's economy, will face action as per law," Majhi said, adding, the priority of the new government was welfare of the poor, women, tribals, farmers and youths.

Speaking on the occasion, Odisha BJP president Manmohan Samal said," I thank the 4.5 crore people who worked hard along with our party workers which led to the change in the government. The intellectuals stood by the BJP and saved democracy. I thank the people who, without caring for threats and injustice, helped the BJP."

Samal further said that with the blessings of the people, the BJP's strength in the Assembly is 81 including 78 MLAs from the BJP. We will work hard and strengthen our organisation so that nobody can dare to shake our government in the next 25-30 years.