Panel for allowing ASI to carry out inspection of Puri temple treasury during 2024 rath yatra
The Hindu
The Opposition BJP and Congress allege that the treasury was in ruinous condition due to leakage of water and precious jewellery and stones could have been damaged inside the locked Ratna Bhandar.
The Jagannath Temple Management Committee, the apex governing body of the 12th century Jagannath Temple, Puri, has decided to recommend allowing the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to carry out the inspection of Ratna Bhandar (treasury) during the 2024 rath yatra.
The decision assumes significance as the Naveen Patnaik government has been under pressure to open Ratna Bhandar, which is believed to possess precious jewellery and stones.
The last inventory of jewellery and stones was carried out in 1978. For obvious reasons, the State government had shown ‘reluctance’ to open the treasury of Shree Jagannath Temple.
The Opposition BJP and Congress allege that the treasury was in ruinous condition due to leakage of water and precious jewellery and stones could have been damaged inside the locked Ratna Bhandar. Former State BJP president Sameer Mohanty had moved the Orissa High Court seeking intervention in opening the Ratna Bhandar, which is situated near the sanctum of sanctorum of the temple.
People in Odisha are emotionally attached to the Ratna Bhandar as devotees regularly donate cash, gold, silver and precious stones to the temple. Any tampering with treasury of the Lord would not go down well with devotees, said a Sevayat.
“The committee members had discussed all aspects of opening of Ratna Bhandar in detail. The ASI had requested the Chief Administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration for inspection of Ratna Bhandar and sought necessary support. In 2018, the ASI had made a similar request,” said Samarth Verma, Puri District Collector, following the committee meeting.
Mr. Verma said the ASI wanted to inspect the treasury during the rath yatra when idols are taken outside the temple and devotees would not be affected by the inspection work.
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