Puri: The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) announced on Monday that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has successfully completed the restoration of the temple's 'Ratna Bhandar' (treasury), with inventory processes set to commence pending state government approval.

This update was shared during a press conference led by SJTA Chief Administrator Arabinda Padhee alongside ASI's Superintending Archaeologist, D B Garnayak.

The ASI oversees the majestic 65-meter tall temple located in this coastal town.

Padhee expressed gratitude, stating, "Thanks to the Lord's grace, the conservation and renovation of both the outer and inner Ratna Bhandar has been finalized today."

The outer chamber is frequently utilized for storing and retrieving ornaments used in daily rituals and festivals, while the inner chamber, housing the most precious gold and diamond ornaments, has remained unopened for 46 years due to structural concerns.

In 2024, the inner chamber was reopened for an inventory and structural repairs.

The ASI dedicated approximately 333 hours over 95 days to the conservation efforts, with a team of 80 individuals involved in preserving the treasury, according to Padhee, an IAS officer.

Regarding the inventory of the Ratna Bhandar's valuables, Padhee noted that work will only begin after receiving the necessary permissions from the state government.

The Jagannath temple operates under the jurisdiction of the Odisha government's Law Department.

Last July, jewelry and other valuable items stored in iron chests were relocated to temporary strong rooms within the temple as the Ratna Bhandar was reopened after four decades.

With repairs now complete, the valuables are expected to be returned to the Ratna Bhandar soon, as confirmed by the SJTA chief administrator.

The last inventory conducted in 1978 revealed that the temple possessed 128 kilograms of gold and over 200 kilograms of silver, with some ornaments featuring gold coatings that were not weighed at that time.

Padhee emphasized that the repair and conservation efforts adhered to guidelines set by the state government.

He added, "By the Lord's grace, the repair work was finalized before the Niladri Bije of the deities on July 8."

The term 'Niladri Bije' signifies the return of the sibling deities—Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra, and Lord Jagannath—to the temple's sanctum, marking the end of the Rath Yatra festival.

Although the Ratna Bhandar was reopened last July, repair work commenced in December following a comprehensive survey utilizing advanced technologies such as laser scanning and ground-penetrating radar.

D B Garnayak, the ASI chief for the Odisha circle, reported that a total of 520 damaged stone blocks and a corbel arch were replaced in both the inner and outer chambers of the Ratna Bhandar.

He stated, "These significant stone blocks from the exterior and interior walls had deteriorated over time. Now, granite stones have been installed on the floor."

Additionally, 15 damaged beams were replaced with stainless steel beams, employing traditional dry masonry techniques for the renovations.