Justice Biswanath Rath Proposes to Open Jagannath Temple’s Ratna Bhandar on July 14

Bhubaneswar: A high-level committee headed by Justice Biswanath Rath has proposed the Odisha government to open the Ratna Bhandar (treasury) of Jagannath Temple in Puri on July 14.

The decision was taken during the second meeting of the reconstituted committee, formed to supervise the inventorying of valuables, including jewellery stored in the Ratna Bhandar. The committee, led by retired Justice Biswanath Rath of the Orissa High Court, reconvened after a 46-year gap to oversee this critical task.

Justice Rath informed that a proposal for the reopening of the Ratna Bhandar would be submitted to the Odisha government. “Whether the key is available or not or whether it functions or not, Ratna Bhandar will be reopened for sure. All we need is the cooperation of devotees,” said Justice Rath.

He assured that special care would be taken to ensure that devotees are not refrained from having darshan of the deities during the opening of Ratna Bhandar.