Jagannath Temple’s Ratna Bhandar

The Ratna Bhandar, also known as the "treasure trove," is a significant part of the Jagannath Temple located in Puri, Odisha, India.

The temple is dedicated to Lord Jagannath, a form of Lord Krishna. The Ratna Bhandar is a room within the temple complex where valuable and precious items, including gold and jewelry, are traditionally stored.

The Ratna Bhandar gained prominence due to the mystery and legends surrounding its contents. According to popular belief, the Ratna Bhandar contains a vast amount of gold and other treasures, accumulated over centuries from the donations and offerings of devotees. However, there has been limited documentation or visibility of the actual contents of the treasure trove.

In recent times, there have been attempts to open the Ratna Bhandar and assess its contents for conservation purposes and to gain a better understanding of the temple's history and heritage. In April 2018, a decision was made to inspect and possibly open the Ratna Bhandar to conduct a thorough inventory of its contents.

This decision led to debates and controversies, as some groups expressed concerns about the preservation of the temple's sanctity and the potential disruption of its spiritual significance.