Bhubaneswar: The historic inventory of the Jagannath Temple’s Ratna Bhandar, which houses priceless gems, gold, and centuries-old ornaments, is set to commence on March 25, 2026. The announcement was made on Monday by Dr Arabinda Kumar Padhee, Chief Administrator of the Shree Jagannatha Temple Administration (SJTA).
A crucial meeting of the Temple Management Committee, held in the presence of Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb, SJTA Working Chairperson Anu Garg, and the head of the temple’s security sub-committee Girish Chandra Murmu, approved the schedule and procedures for the rare inventory process.
Dr Padhee told the media, “As per the Temple Management Committee, the inventory (Ganati Manati) will begin on March 25, 2026 (Chaitra Shukla Paksha Saptami Tithi) from 12 noon to 1:45 pm.”
The inventory will follow a detailed 14-page Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) recently approved by the Odisha Government. The process has been divided into three phases to maintain the spiritual sanctity of the temple: starting with the active treasury, followed by the outer chamber, and concluding with the inner Ratna Bhandar, which houses the most ancient and rarely seen ornaments of Lord Jagannatha, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra.
A specialised team has been constituted to ensure transparency while respecting religious protocols. The team comprises temple servitors, representatives from the Reserve Bank of India, and expert gemologists and goldsmiths from public sector banks.
Dr Padhee emphasised that daily rituals and decorations (Niti-Kanti), the sacred ceremonies of the deities, will continue uninterrupted throughout the inventory.
The temple administration described the inventory as a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” to catalogue the treasures while preserving the spiritual and cultural heritage of the shrine, which draws millions of devotees every year.
With meticulous planning, the SJTA aims to complete the process smoothly, balancing security, transparency, and devotion.
