Puri: The Ratna Bhandar of Lord Jagannath Temple will be opened today at an auspicious time in the afternoon.
All arrangements have been put in place for the opening of the Ratna Bhandar in the presence of the Ratna Bhandar Committee led by Justice Biswanath Ratha.
The Ratna Bhandar of the Jagannath Temple is being opened for the first time in the last 46 years. The High level committee will oversee the inventorization of the valuables kept in the Ratna Bhandar.
The last inventory was made in the year 1978. The Archaeological Survey of India officials will also take stock of the condition of the inside of the Ratna Bhandar.
The Government of Odisha approved the Standard Operating Procedure for the opening of the Ratna Bhandar yesterday and authorized the Committee to open the Ratna Bhandar.
According to the 1978 inventory, the Ratna Bhandar had 12,831 bharis of of gold ornaments and 22,153 bharis of silver ornaments and utensils, precious gem stones, and other precious items.
The expert goldsmiths authorized by the Committee will carry out testing and ascertain the value of the gold ornaments and decide the nature and character of the different types of jewelry including the precious diamonds, emeralds, rubies, and other semi-precious stones kept in the Ratna Bhandara.