After a 46-year hiatus, the Ratna Bhandara at Puri Kshetra in Odisha has been opened. The temple staff conducted a thorough cleaning of the room. During the process, SP Pinak Mishra fell ill near the Ratna Bhandara and received medical attention.
In preparation for this event, the government arranged large wooden boxes to transfer the treasures stored in the Ratna Bhandara. These boxes were transported to the Puri temple in a special vehicle.
The Jagannath Temple in Puri, constructed in the 12th century, houses valuable ornaments of deities Lord Jagannath, Subhadra, and Bhalabhadra in its Ratna Bhandara. Before opening the repository, a significant ritual called ‘Agna’ was performed. Additionally, snake-catching teams were deployed, anticipating the possibility of venomous snakes inside due to the room being sealed for over four decades.