Puri: Shree Jagannatha Temple Administration (SJTA) has decided to pause the current phase of the sacred Ratna Bhandar inventory process starting tomorrow, allowing the holy rituals and grand summer festivals of the deities to take center stage.
Steering this highly sensitive and spiritually significant assignment is Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee, the Chief Administrator of the Shree Jagannatha Temple Administration. An ardent devotee of Lord Jagannatha, Dr. Padhee considers himself profoundly fortunate to be blessed with this historic responsibility.
Approaching the task not merely as an administrative duty but as a sacred offering, he continues to handle the delicate process with complete devotion, absolute transparency, and meticulous care, ensuring that the sanctity of Mahaprabhu’s treasury remains untarnished.
SJTA Chief Administrator Dr.Padhee has said that while the counting process will resume with renewed devotion in the month of June, the inventory work for today, May twenty-third, is proceeding smoothly as per the prior schedule. Under the divine gaze and boundless grace of the Lord of the Universe, this entire monumental task has been unfolding with utmost transparency, strictly adhering to the guidelines approved by the state government.
This profound endeavor has been nothing short of a divine experience for everyone involved. The smooth progression of this sacred duty has been made possible by the sublime guidance of Gajapati Maharaja, the wise counsel of the high-level and management committees, and the unwavering dedication of the District Collector, the Superintendent of Police, and fellow officials. Most importantly, it is the heartfelt cooperation of the sevayat fraternity that has breathed spiritual life into this delicate task.
The path of devotion also demands utmost care and wisdom. Keeping in view the prevailing intense heatwave conditions, the swelling crowds of eager devotees, and the grand upcoming festivals of the deities—most notably the sacred Snana Purnima and the historic Ghosha Yatra—the administration has recognized the need for meticulous planning for the next phase. To brainstorm and finalize the roadmap ahead, a series of consecutive meetings involving the Chhatisa Nijoga, the temple management committee, and relevant sub-committees are scheduled to commence from next week.