Odisha Approves SOP for Jagannath Temple Ratna Bhandar Inventory, Dates to Be Decided

The Odisha government has approved a detailed Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for conducting the long-overdue inventory and appraisal of ornaments and valuables stored in the Ratna Bhandar of the Jagannath Temple in Puri. The inventory, mandated by the Orissa High Court and last conducted in 1978, will be carried out in phases by two committees formed by the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration. The temple managing committee will decide the commencement date, considering auspicious days and major festivals to avoid disruption of rituals. The process will involve expert gemologists, goldsmiths from public sector banks, and may include the Puri Gajapati Maharaja, with full CCTV surveillance and documentation.