The Holy Trinity will leave the sanctum sanctorum of the temple on July 7 and set out on a nine-day journey (Rath Yatra Mahotsav).
The missing keys of the Ratna Bhandar were one of the major election issues of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which had assured to launch a probe into the mystery behind the missing keys and make an inventory of the jewelery stored in the treasury. If the party wins the election.
"The Ratna Bhandar will be opened on July 8 in the presence of the Technical Core Conservation Committee of the Archaeological Survey of India and a 12-member Ratna Bhandar Committee constituted by the State Government. After inspection and assessment of the condition of the treasure, this 12th century temple, the Ratna Bhandar will be opened for conservation and Decisions will be taken regarding immediate steps required for conservation,” said D.B. Garnayak, ASI superintending archaeologist.
Garnayak further said that during the inspection of the outer chamber of the Ratna Bhandar in 2018, several cracks and broken stone pieces and missing iron beams were observed.Similarly, through laser scanning conducted in November 2023, a 15-member ASI team of architects, expert engineers and scientific photographers had also detected cracks at several places on the external walls and joints of the Ratna Bhandar.
He also said that rain water might be seeping inside the gem store through cracks.
Meanwhile, renowned sand artist and Padmashri Sudarshan Patnaik urged Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to take immediate steps towards repairing the gem repository.
It is noteworthy that there are two chambers in the gem store of Jagannath temple.
The inner chamber contains precious jewelery used on rare occasions, while jewelery required during daily rituals and special festivals is kept in the outer chamber of the temple treasury.The inner chamber was last opened almost 39 years ago on 14 July 1985.
The inventory of precious jewelery kept in the treasury of the Jagannath temple was last conducted in 1978.
The missing keys of the Ratna Bhandar were one of the major election issues of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which had assured to launch a probe into the mystery behind the missing keys and make an inventory of the jewelery stored in the treasury. If the party wins the election.
"The Ratna Bhandar will be opened on July 8 in the presence of the Technical Core Conservation Committee of the Archaeological Survey of India and a 12-member Ratna Bhandar Committee constituted by the State Government. After inspection and assessment of the condition of the treasure, this 12th century temple, the Ratna Bhandar will be opened for conservation and Decisions will be taken regarding immediate steps required for conservation,” said D.B. Garnayak, ASI superintending archaeologist.
Garnayak further said that during the inspection of the outer chamber of the Ratna Bhandar in 2018, several cracks and broken stone pieces and missing iron beams were observed.Similarly, through laser scanning conducted in November 2023, a 15-member ASI team of architects, expert engineers and scientific photographers had also detected cracks at several places on the external walls and joints of the Ratna Bhandar.
He also said that rain water might be seeping inside the gem store through cracks.
Meanwhile, renowned sand artist and Padmashri Sudarshan Patnaik urged Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to take immediate steps towards repairing the gem repository.
It is noteworthy that there are two chambers in the gem store of Jagannath temple.
The inner chamber contains precious jewelery used on rare occasions, while jewelery required during daily rituals and special festivals is kept in the outer chamber of the temple treasury.The inner chamber was last opened almost 39 years ago on 14 July 1985.
The inventory of precious jewelery kept in the treasury of the Jagannath temple was last conducted in 1978.
