India
Panel proposes inventory of Puri Ratna Bhandar from July 14 | India News – Times of India
BHUBANESWAR: Uncertainty over valuables stored in Puri Jagannath Temple‘s Ratna Bhandar, whose inventory was last performed in 1978, may eventually end with a Commission recently compiled by the Mohan Majhi government, which on Tuesday proposed to conduct a fresh survey of Ratna Bhandar from July 14.
“Our 16-member committee has proposed to start the inventory and conservation of the Ratna Bhandar simultaneously on July 14. We hope the government will approve the proposed date,” said Justice Biswanath Rath, a retired judge of the Orissa High Court and chairman of the committee, said.
Ratna Bhandar’s inventory and the missing keys issue were major issues raised by the BJP during the Odisha state elections.
The committee prepared a draft standard operating procedures (SOP) to carry out the inventory. According to the SOP, items stored in the Ratna Bhandar would be shifted to a temporary site in the shrine so that the ASI could carry out repair and conservation work on the structure, which had developed cracks. Audit and inventory of the jewellery would be carried out simultaneously by expert appraisers and goldsmiths in the makeshift Ratna Bhandar amid tight security.
According to Judge (retired) Rath, the government will select a team of experts, including goldsmiths and appraisers, who can identify the types and nature of the jewellery.
“We may not go for the appraisal of the jewelry and ornaments. But our priority is to know the nature of the ornaments, their character and the presence of diamonds, pearls, rubies and other precious stones,” Rath said.
The commission said that the inventory would be a lengthy process. The last inventory of Ratna Bhandar’s valuables was carried out over a period of 70 days, from May 13, 1978 to July 23, 1978. According to this inventory, 367 gold articles, including a chain, a necklace and a crown weighing 4,360 bhari (1 bhari is about 12 grams) and 231 silver articles weighing 14,828 bhari were found in the inner chamber. At least 87 gold articles weighing 8,470 bhari and 62 silver articles weighing 7,321 bhari were found in the outer chamber of the Ratna Bhandar.
Currently the deities are in the Gundicha temple and will return to the Jagannath temple at Niladri Bije on July 19.
“We have suggested that the normal darshan system and daily rituals should not be affected during the inventory and repair process. However, devotees may face certain restrictions and inconveniences while having darshan of the deities,” Rath said. Panel suggests Puri Ratna Bhandar inventory of July 14.
“Our 16-member committee has proposed to start the inventory and conservation of the Ratna Bhandar simultaneously on July 14. We hope the government will approve the proposed date,” said Justice Biswanath Rath, a retired judge of the Orissa High Court and chairman of the committee, said.
Ratna Bhandar’s inventory and the missing keys issue were major issues raised by the BJP during the Odisha state elections.
The committee prepared a draft standard operating procedures (SOP) to carry out the inventory. According to the SOP, items stored in the Ratna Bhandar would be shifted to a temporary site in the shrine so that the ASI could carry out repair and conservation work on the structure, which had developed cracks. Audit and inventory of the jewellery would be carried out simultaneously by expert appraisers and goldsmiths in the makeshift Ratna Bhandar amid tight security.
According to Judge (retired) Rath, the government will select a team of experts, including goldsmiths and appraisers, who can identify the types and nature of the jewellery.
“We may not go for the appraisal of the jewelry and ornaments. But our priority is to know the nature of the ornaments, their character and the presence of diamonds, pearls, rubies and other precious stones,” Rath said.
The commission said that the inventory would be a lengthy process. The last inventory of Ratna Bhandar’s valuables was carried out over a period of 70 days, from May 13, 1978 to July 23, 1978. According to this inventory, 367 gold articles, including a chain, a necklace and a crown weighing 4,360 bhari (1 bhari is about 12 grams) and 231 silver articles weighing 14,828 bhari were found in the inner chamber. At least 87 gold articles weighing 8,470 bhari and 62 silver articles weighing 7,321 bhari were found in the outer chamber of the Ratna Bhandar.
Currently the deities are in the Gundicha temple and will return to the Jagannath temple at Niladri Bije on July 19.
“We have suggested that the normal darshan system and daily rituals should not be affected during the inventory and repair process. However, devotees may face certain restrictions and inconveniences while having darshan of the deities,” Rath said. Panel suggests Puri Ratna Bhandar inventory of July 14.
