Jagannath Puri / Ancient idols found in the Ratna Bhandar of Jagannath temple, eyes remained wide open after seeing the treasure!

Jagannath Puri: Government officials and sevadars, who opened the Ratna Bhandaar of the Jagannath temple after 46 years on Sunday, found several ancient idols made of precious metals in the inner chamber of the treasury. According to a report in the Times of India, these idols were not included in any list earlier.

Ancient small idols found

Biswanath Rath, chairman of the 11-member committee formed to monitor the inventory of the Ratna Bhandaar, said, "5 to 7 ancient small idols have almost turned black in the last four decades. We did not touch them. We immediately lit a diya and worshipped the idols. Those idols will be shifted to a temporary strong room on Thursday. Details related to the weight and construction of the idols can be ascertained only after the inventory."

Many valuables in the inner chamber

The sevadars believe that these idols were worshipped long ago by the caretakers of the Bhandaar or treasury. The team members admitted that they were not aware of the specific type of valuables kept in chests and shelves inside the inner chamber. It is largely based on speculation that the inner chamber contained many valuables, such as gold crowns, gold and tiger claws, gold garlands, gold wheels, gold flowers, gold mohurs (coins), lockets, silver thrones, bracelets, necklaces studded with diamonds and pearls, and gold-studded Mayur Chandrika, etc.

Durga Prasad Dasmohapatra, a sevadar who was part of the team that entered the Ratna Bhandar on Sunday, said, "We found only gold and silver items in the outer chamber, which is opened for the use of the deities during annual festivals. We do not know what is kept in the boxes in the inner chamber."