BHUBANESWAR: Government officials and servitors, who opened Ratna Bhandar of Jagannath Temple on Sunday after 46 years, discovered several antique idols crafted from precious metals in the treasury’s inner chamber. These idols were not listed in any previous inventories.
“The ancient small idols — perhaps 5 to 7 in number — have turned almost black over the last four decades.We did not touch them. We immediately lit a diya and worshipped the idols. Those idols will be shifted to the temporary strongroom on Thursday. Details involving weight and make of the idols can be ascertained only after inventory,” said Biswanath Rath, chairman of an 11-member committee set up to oversee the inventory of Ratna Bhandar.
The servitors believe that these idols were once worshipped by the Bhandar mekaps, or treasury caretakers, long ago. The team members admitted that they were unaware of the specific types of valuables stored in the chests and almirahs within the inner chamber. There is widespread speculation that the inner chamber contained various precious items, such as gold crowns, gold and tiger claws, golden wreaths, gold wheels, gold flowers, gold mohar (coins), lockets, silver thrones, bracelets, necklaces adorned with diamonds and pearls, and a gold-studded Mayur Chandrika, among other treasures.
“We found only gold and silver articles within the outer chamber, which is opened for use of deities during annual festivals. We have no idea what is stored in the boxes in the inner chamber,” Durga Prasad Dasmohapatra, a servitor, who was part of the team that entered Ratna Bhandar on Sunday.
Source Agencies
