Puri: Bringing clarity to one of the most sensitive and closely watched issues concerning Shree Jagannath Temple, the Shree Jagannath Temple Management Committee on Saturday approved the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the inventorisation of the jewels and valuables kept in the Ratna Bhandar, with the process set to begin only after formal approval from the Odisha Government.
The decision was taken at a key meeting of the committee held in Puri under the chairmanship of Gajapati Maharaja Dibya Singha Deb. Discussions during the meeting focused on the timing and auspicious occasion (shubha muhurta) for the inventorisation, with the final SOP now being forwarded to the State Government for clearance.
Addressing the media after the meeting, Chief Administrator of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Dr Arabinda Kumar Padhee said that the inventorisation would be carried out in a manner that ensures the temple’s daily rituals (niti kanti) remain completely unaffected. He said clarity on the schedule would emerge after the government’s approval, following which a formal announcement would be made.
Apart from the Ratna Bhandar issue, the meeting also reviewed progress on the proposed Adarsha Gurukul for the children of Shree Mandir servitors (sevayats). The long-pending land acquisition issue for the Gurukul has now been resolved, marking a significant step towards its establishment.
Key temple-related matters such as the security of Shree Mandir, queue darshan arrangements at the Natamandap, darshan facilities for differently-abled devotees, special provisions for Puri residents, the daily rituals of Mahaprabhu and the opening of the Gundicha Temple were also discussed at length.
Dr Padhee informed that a new gold palanquin for Mahaprabhu has been prepared and will be installed after finalising an auspicious lagna.
The opening of the Gundicha Temple will similarly be decided after consulting the appropriate tithi and lagna. An entry fee of ₹10 will be charged for entry, though children and differently-abled persons will be exempted. He clarified that the fee has been introduced for regulatory purposes and not for revenue generation.
In a move likely to bring relief to pilgrims visiting Puri, parking charges at four temple-run devotee accommodations have been reduced from ₹500 to ₹240.
The meeting was attended by the Deputy Chief Administrator of Shree Mandir, the Superintendent of Police, senior temple officials and all members of the Temple Management Committee.
