The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has decided to reopen the inner chamber of the Ratna Bhandar on Thursday to transfer ornaments to a newly established temporary storeroom within the 12th-century shrine complex. This decision follows the recent opening of the chamber after 46 years for inventory and repairs.
The announcement came after a meeting attended by SJTA Chief Administrator Arabinda Padhee, Justice Biswanth Rath (chairman of the state-appointed supervisory committee for the Ratna Bhandar), Puri Collector Siddharth Shankar Swain, and other officials on Tuesday.
Puri District Magistrate Siddharth Shankar Swain confirmed on July 16 that a team of 11 members would enter the Ratna Bhandar’s inner chamber between 9:51 am and 12:15 pm on Thursday to facilitate the transfer of ornaments to the temporary treasury.