Puri: After six hours of Ganati Manati (inventory and assessment) of the Chalanti Ratna Bhandar of the Shree Jagannath Temple, SJTA Chief Administrator Arabinda Kumar Padhee on Wednesday said advanced technology was used during the process.
Padhee informed 3D mapping, along with photography and videography, was undertaken to ensure accurate documentation and preparation of a comprehensive inventory.
On the first day of the exercise, around 80 per cent of the movable treasures were counted. The process included detailed enumeration of gold ornaments and items used in the daily rituals of Lord Jagannath.
While refraining from disclosing the quantity of items assessed, the SJTA Chief said further proceedings would continue in the coming days. During the process, public darshan from Bhitara Katha was restricted, and devotees were allowed to have darshan only from the Bahara Katha. Notably, the last inventory and assessment of the Ratna Bhandar was conducted in 1978.
The long-awaited inventory of Ratna Bhandar (treasury), marking the first comprehensive audit of the sacred treasures in nearly five decades. The SJTA had finalised a detailed schedule following consultations with temple scholars, astrologers, and the managing committee, presided over by Puri Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb. The process kicked off during an auspicious window between 12:09 pm and 1:45 pm on the occasion of Chaitra Shukla Saptami.
The district collector will retrieve the keys from the district treasury each day and return them after the day’s work to ensure strict security and transparency. A three-member supervisory team, led by SJTA Chief Administrator Arabinda Padhee, will monitor the entire operation.
The 10-member handling team includes two gemmologists (provided by the state government), the temple’s traditional goldsmith, additional goldsmiths empanelled by nationalised banks, the Bhandar Mekapa (temple treasurer), other traditional servitors such as Pattajoshi Mahapatra, Tadhau Karan, and Deula Karan, representatives from the temple managing committee, and two senior officers from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Camera crews and video technicians will also enter to record proceedings.
No gemologist participated in the 1978 inventory. The 1978 inventory took 72 days to complete. The Orissa High Court has directed the current exercise to be finished within three months, but SJTA officials have indicated they may seek an extension given the scale and meticulous nature of the work, which includes digitisation for long-term preservation.
Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan, who reviewed the preparedness for the inventory at a meeting on March 23, emphasised that the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) approved by the State government will be followed with utmost transparency. The entire exercise will be documented and stored in digitised form. The inclusion of external experts such as gemmologists, a metallurgist, bank-recommended goldsmiths, and RBI officials will bring greater accuracy and accountability compared to the previous exercise, which lacked specialised gem identification.
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