What’s Next for Puri’s Jagannath Temple? Inventory of Treasures on the Horizon!

Odisha Government Plans to Reconstitute Temple Committee

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government announced plans to reconstitute the Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee (SJTMC), which will facilitate the long-awaited inventory of Lord Jagannath's treasures, with representatives from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) present.

Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan addressed concerns regarding the delay in the inventory process for the Ratna Bhandar valuables.

He stated, "The reconstitution of the SJTMC will enable us to proceed with the inventory of Lord Jagannath's treasures stored in the Ratna Bhandar. Currently, these valuables, which include gold, diamonds, and other precious items, are kept in a temporary strong room within the temple grounds."

The minister also revealed that the RBI has appointed two experts to oversee the inventory process of the temple's treasures.

"Once the items are transferred from the strong rooms to the Ratna Bhandar's inner chamber, we will inform the RBI about the schedule. The inventory will then take place in the presence of the designated officials," he added.

The last comprehensive inventory of the Ratna Bhandar was conducted 46 years ago in 1978. The SJTMC is crucial for managing the affairs of the historic 12th-century temple.

Established under the Shree Jagannath Temple Act of 1955, the committee consists of 18 members, with 10 appointed by the government. The remaining members include ex-officio members, with Gajapati Maharaj Dibyasingha Deb serving as the permanent chair.

However, the state government has not appointed new members for the past 10 months, as the previous members' term ended on September 2, 2024.

"Since the Rath Yatra has concluded, we are optimistic that the government will soon appoint members to the SJTMC," Gajapati Maharaj recently stated.

"This is essential for the effective management of the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri," he emphasized.