Puri: Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee, Chief Administrator of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), has announced that the repair and conservation work of the Ratnabhandara, the temple’s treasury, is now complete.
As a result, the ornaments and valuables of the Trinity that were temporarily stored will be returned to the main Ratnabhandara on Tuesday, September 23. This move follows the guidelines approved by the state government.
To facilitate the shifting process, public darshan will be closed on September 23 starting from 10 AM. The Natamandap and Jagmohan of the Shrimandir will be cleaned, and devotee entry to the main temple and its immediate areas will be prohibited.
Dr.Padhee said devotees who wish to receive Mahaprasada can do so at Anand Bazaar. Once the transfer of the Ratnabhandara items is complete, the restrictions will be lifted and normal darshan will resume. The SJTA has humbly requested the cooperation of all devotees during this period of restricted access.
The decision to open the Ratnabhandara for renovation was made by the Sri Jagannath Temple Management Committee during the 2024 Rath Jatra. A high-level committee was formed under retired Odisha High Court Judge Justice Biswanath Rath to oversee the process, with the state government providing special guidelines.
- July 14, 2024: The outer Ratnabhandara was opened, and its contents were moved to a temporary storage area. The inner Ratnabhandara was also opened after many years, but since the lock could not be opened with the key, it was broken to allow entry. The transfer of the inner Ratnabhandara’s contents was postponed due to time constraints.
- July 18, 2024: The inner Ratnabhandara was opened again. All ornaments and materials were moved to a temporary strongroom nearby, sealed, and the key was placed in the treasury. The entire process was videographed.
- August 23, 2024: The empty cupboards and chests from both vaults were moved to a room near the Niladri Vihar Museum.
- September 21-22, 2024: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) conducted a detailed scientific and technical survey of the Ratnabhandara to identify any potential hidden chambers or tunnels, while also respecting the temple’s traditions.
- December 17, 2024 – July 7, 2025: The ASI began the conservation and repair work based on its survey report. This work lasted for 95 days, totaling approximately 333 hours.
- September 23, 2025: The ornaments and valuables will be moved from their temporary storage back to the newly conserved Ratnabhandara.
Dr. Padhee, an ardennt devotee of Lord Jagannath is meticulously planning and executing the most arduous and sensitive job with all sincerity and devotion. The project was carried out with transparency and in strict adherence to government guidelines, officials admit.