Long wait over: Lord Jagannath’s Ratna Bhandar reopens after 46 years

Puri (Odisha): The long wait of nearly five decades is over now. After a gap of 46 years, Lord Jagannath’s Ratna Bhandar or treasure trove located inside Srimandir, reopened on Sunday, bringing smiles on the faces of crores of devotees across the world.

A 15-member high-level committee headed by Justice Biswanath Rath entered Ratna Bhandar as per the schedule and unlocked it exactly at 1.28 pm.

While the committee managed to open the Bahar Bhandar or outer treasury with the key procured from district treasury, it had to break the lock of Bhitar Bandar as it did not open with its keys.

According to Sri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) chief administrator Dr Arabinda Padhee, precious jewels and jewellery stored in the Sindooks or wooden chests in Bhahar Bhandar of Ratna Bhandar were shifted to a temporary strong room. The valuables kept in the inner treasury of Bhitar Bhandar could not be shifted today because of the want of time.

“As it was late today till the valuables of Bahar Bhandar were shifted to temporary strong-room, we decided to move the jewels and jewellery off of Bhitar Bhandar on another suitable day after Lord Jagannath’s Bahuda Yatra and other rituals are over,” said Dr Padhee.

The SJTA chief administrator dismissed any snake or other dreaded creatures inside Ratna Bhandar.

Justice Rath said all the committee members were mentally and physically unaffected during the entry into Ratna Bhandar and the subsequent work inside it.

There are three chambers of Bhandars in Ratna Bhandar. The ornaments that are stored in the inner chamber, popularly known as Bhitar Bhandar, — are never used in the rituals of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra. 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.

Thousands of curious devotees standing outside the Srimandir, the abode of Lord Jagannath, were seen praying with folded hands for the wellbeing of the high-level committee members, — amidst the apprehension of presence of snakes, bats and deadly scorpions inside the inner chamber.

However, no untoward incidents were reported today.

“O Lord Jagannath! This world is your creation and everything happens as per your wish. Now, with your direction, the Odias are marching ahead with a sense of Asmita (pride) to make progress. Ratna Bhandar reopened today with your wish,” Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Law minister Prithwiraj Harichandan was present in Puri to oversee the reopening exercise.

All the team members have gone vegetarian for a few days now. Clad in traditional dhoti and scarf, the committee members entered Ratna Bhandar barefooted to maintain the sanctity of the place.

The Ratna Bhandar reopening exercise began after the temple priests obtained Agyan Mala (a garland as symbol of permission) from Lord Shri Loknath temple.

There was a long-standing demand from different quarters for re-opening Ratna Bhadar for its re-enumeration and inventorisation. Top BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, had promised during the election campaign that Ratna Bhandar will be reopened if the BJP comes to power in the state.

Reports said jewellery and gems were being shifted in Sindooks (chests) to some temporary treasury houses.

A team of Snake Helpline was deployed to help the members who are engaged in the reopening work of Ratna Bhandar. It is believed that the treasure trove of Lord Jagannath is guarded by snakes.

Though an attempt was made in 2018 to reopen Ratna Bhandar, the team members could not succeed as they reportedly found risks in opening the chamber, apprehending some kind of mishap due to its dilapidating conditions. Some members even then said they heard hissing sounds of snakes.

Archaeological Survey of India ASI superintendent D.B. Gadanayak informed that engineers and workers have already been kept in readiness for the required repair work.

Ratna Bhandar was last opened for examination of the inventory in 1978 when present Chhattisgarh governor Biswa Bhusan Harichandan was Odisha law minister. Incidentally, Biswa Bhusan’s son Prithwiraj Harichandan is now the law minister who is leading the Ratna Bhandar re-opening mission.

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.