Puri: The inventory and counting process of the Ratna Bhandar (treasure vault) of the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri has been temporarily suspended and will resume in June, the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) said on Saturday.

According to the administration, the ongoing inventory exercise—conducted as per the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)—will be paused from May 24, while the counting work scheduled for May 23 will continue as planned.

Decision taken amid heatwave and devotee rush

The decision to defer the next phase of the counting process has been taken in view of the intense heatwave conditions, large influx of devotees, and upcoming major rituals including Snana Purnima and the Rath Jatra preparations. The administration also stated that committee meetings, including those of the Chhattisa Nijog and related sub-committees, will be held in the coming week to plan the next phase of work.

SJTA officials said the inventory process, which resumed on May 11 after a temporary pause during the Chandana Jatra rituals, has so far recorded about 57 hours and 8 minutes of counting activity. During this phase, more than 120 ornaments from the inner chamber have been documented, completing nearly 20 per cent of the overall inventory work.

The Ratna Bhandar inventory exercise had originally begun on March 25 under strict security arrangements involving temple servitors, officials, gemologists, bank personnel, and representatives of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

As per the approved SOP, the counted valuables will be cross-verified with temple records from 1978. Each item will undergo weighing, identification, and digital documentation with expert assistance before being securely packed and stored. Gold, silver, and other valuables will be systematically categorised and preserved in colour-coded containers for long-term safety and transparency.

The administration said the exercise reflects a structured and transparent effort to scientifically document the temple’s sacred assets while ensuring their preservation for future generations.