Puri Jagannath Temple Ratna Bhandar reopened after 46 years

The treasury, last opened in 1978, couldnt be reopened in 2018 due to missing keys

The Ratna Bhandar, the revered treasury of the 12th-century Jagannath Temple in Puri, was reopened on Sunday after 46 years for an inventory of valuables and the repair of its structure, officials said.

A committee established by the state government entered the temple around 12 pm. After performing rituals, the treasury was reopened at 1:28 pm, the auspicious moment decided at a morning meeting.

While the inventory work did not start on Sunday, officials stated that it would take time. The reopening of the Ratna Bhandar had been a significant political issue during the recent assembly elections. The BJP had targeted the then-ruling BJD over the missing keys of the treasury, promising to reopen it if they won the polls.

"On the wish of Lord Jagannath, the Odia community, with the identity of 'Odia Asmita', has started making efforts to move forward," the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said in a post on X in Odia. "On your wish, the four gates of the Jagannath Temple's were earlier opened. Today, on your wish, the Ratna Bhandar was opened after 46 years for a greater purpose," it added.