Puri: The Inner Chamber of the Ratna Bhandar of Lord Jagannath will again reopen on July 18 morning for repair of the structure and inventory of the precious ornaments and valuables inside the Bhandar.
This decision was taken at the high-level Committee formed under the chairmanship of retired High Court Judge Justice Biswanath Rath here today. Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) chief administrator Arabinda Padhee also remains present in the meeting.
Speaking to media persons, Justice Rath said the inner chamber of the Ratna Bhandar will be opened on Thursday between 9.51 AM to 12.15 PM. The authorised persons will only be allowed inside the Ratna Bhandar.
After reopening the locks, all the ornaments and valuables stored inside the inner Ratna Bhandar will be shifted to designate a strong room inside the temple on the same day, he said.
The ornaments will be first stored in new Almirahs and chests and then those will be shifted to the strong room, he informed.
After shifting of the ornaments, ASI officials will be allowed to inspect the structure of the inner Bhandar and then, the treasury will be again sealed, Justice Rath said.
The valuables will be shifted to a particular Almirah or chest and after completion of the repair works, the same will be re-shifted to concern Almirah or chest, he added.
All the works will be carried out as per SOP and the proceedings will be videographed, said SJTA Chief Administrator Dr Padhee.
All care will be taken so that the daily rituals and public darshan will not be affected. However, on July 18, the public darshan may be affected as restriction on entry of devotees will be imposed on the day, he said.
On July 14, the 11-member special committee had opened the outer chamber of Ratna Bhandar and shifted all ornaments and valuables stored there to a temporary strong room inside the temple.
As shifting of the ornaments and valuables of the inner chamber of the treasury will be a time-consuming process, all the members unanimously decided not to shift the valuables on another day. Now, finally, the inner chamber of the Ratna Bhandar will be reopened for inventory purposes on Thursday.