Bhubaneswar: Like yesterday, inventory of valuables in the inner Ratna Bhandar of Shree Jagannath Temple continued for the 17th day today. The exercise, which lasted for 8 hours and 23 minutes, involved matching of diamonds, sapphires, pearls, rubies and other precious gems as per the 1978 list.
Chief Administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Dr Arabinda Kumar Padhee said the inventory process is being conducted strictly adhering to the state government-approved Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) under CCTV surveillance and the presence of a magistrate and authorised persons.The date for the next phase will be informed later, he said.
Today, after Sakala Dhupa rituals at 11.30 am, a special team entered the temple. The inventory was completed at 7.53 pm. So far, inventory of five cupboards out of six inside has been completed. The entire exercise is being done with photography, videography, 3D mapping of all valuables and preparation of catalogs of gems. Since gemstones are identified by gem experts, it takes about an hour to examine and count each gemstone.
Yesterday, measurements of three wooden boxes inside the Ratna Bhandar were taken. New boxes will be made based on those measurements. After counting the gemstones from the wooden boxes, they will be kept in new boxes. As it is not possible to open the wooden boxes and count ornaments in the limited space inside the Bhandar, counting will be done in the bedroom. The bedroom is being prepared for the same.
High-level committee chairman Justice Biswanath Rath, authorised servitors, Chhatisha Niyog Nayak, Tadhaukaran, Deulakaran, Bhandar Mekap Sevak, management committee members and all authorised persons are cooperating with dedication, Dr Padhee said.
