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Decades Later: Jagannath Temple Treasury Inventory Starts
24 Dec
Summary
- Jagannath temple's treasury inventory to begin next month.
- Inventory will focus on naming, weighing, and cataloguing items.
- The last inventory was conducted in 1978 and took 71 days.
The much-anticipated inventory of the Jagannath temple's treasury, known as the Ratna Bhandar, is scheduled to commence in January 2026. This extensive exercise aims to document centuries-old precious metals, gems, and jewelry stored within. A high-level committee, formed in July 2025, is finalizing the exact dates and standard operating procedures for this significant undertaking.
Justice Biswanath Rath, chairman of the committee, clarified that the inventory will not involve valuation. Instead, the focus will be on naming, weighing, counting, and cataloguing each item within both the inner and outer chambers. This detailed list will then be cross-verified against the last inventory report compiled in 1978.
The upcoming inventory is a substantial task, projected to take between four to six months. This contrasts with the 71 days the last inventory, completed in 1978, required. The 1978 report detailed 454 gold items and 293 silver items, with a total weight of approximately 128-142 kg of gold and 221-244 kg of silver.
