Odisha minister Prithviraj Harichandan arrives at Jagannath Temple to offer prayers

Puri (Odisha) [India], July 14 (ANI): Odisha Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan on Sunday arrived at the Shri Jagannath Temple in Puri as the Odisha government unlocked the 'Ratna Bhandar' (Treasure Trove) of the Lord Jagannath Temple after over forty years.
The Ratna Bhandar of the Shri Jagannath Temple was opened following Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) issued by the Odisha government. On Saturday, the Odisha government gave approval for the opening of the Ratna Bhandar after carrying out the inventorization of valuables, including pieces of jewellery stored there.
The Ratna Bhandar of the Shri Jagannath Temple was opened following Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) issued by the Odisha government on Sunday.
"I have come to visit Loknath temple and offer prayers to Maa Bimla. Ratna Bhandar's opening process is underway. Managing committee members will provide you with further details," Harichandan said while speaking to ANI.
Speaking on the re-opening of the Ratna Bhandar, Odisha Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan, earlier said that the final approval for opening the Ratna Bhandar was given by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.
"On July 14, Ratna Bhandar of Mahaprabhu Shri Jagannath is going to be opened. The final approval for this has been given by the Chief Minister...All standard operating procedures have been laid down and the government has given the Chief Administrator of the temple the full responsibility to ensure that the entire work is done smoothly under his supervision," he said.
He further stated that the inventory work will take place in the presence of a representative from the Reserve Bank of India and a digital catalogue will be made after the counting is done.
"We had requested the involvement of the Reserve Bank of India in this and a representative of the Reserve Bank of India will be included in it... After counting the ornaments, we will create a digital catalogue, which will include photographs, their weight and other things like their quality. A digital catalogue will be created with all the things; the digital catalogue will be a reference document," he said.
Puri Jagannath Temple in Odisha is known as the land of Lord Jagannath, meaning the Lord of the Universe. Shree Jagannath Temple of Puri is one of the most important temples dedicated to Lord Jagannath, a form of Lord Vishnu, in Puri in the state of Odisha. It is known by many names, viz., the Puri temple, the Srimandira, the Bada Deu1a or simply the Jagannatha temple. (ANI)