Decode Politics: What is the case of the missing keys haunting Naveen Patnaik govt again

AS THE BJP goes all out to improve its performance in Odisha, with repeated claims of winning enough seats to form the government in the state, one issue that top party leaders – from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma – keep bringing up is “safety” of the Ratna Bhandar (treasure trove) of the famed Puri Jagannath temple.

The issue that has deep resonance among the people of Odisha is expected to come up again as Modi holds his roadshow in Puri Monday.

What is Ratna Bhandar?

The precious ornaments of sibling deities Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra, given by devotees and erstwhile kings over centuries, are stored in the Ratna Bhandar of the 12th-century shrine. It is located within the temple and has two chambers — Bhitar Bhandar (inner chamber) and Bahara Bhandar (outer chamber).

The outer chamber is opened regularly to fetch ornaments for the deities during Suna Besha (golden attire), a key ritual during the annual Rath Yatra, and also during major festivals throughout the year. The inner chamber has not been opened in the past 38 years.

When was the Ratna Bhandar last opened?

According to official sources, the last inventory of the Ratna Bhandar was done between May 13 and July 23, 1978. Though it was opened again on July 14, 1985, the inventory was not updated.

According to a reply by former law minister Pratap Jena in the Assembly in April 2018, in 1978, the Ratna Bhandar had 12,831 bhari (one bhari equals 11.66gm) of gold ornaments fitted with precious stones and 22,153 bhari of silver utensils, among other precious items. There were other ornaments which could not be weighed during the inventory process.

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