[ India Today ] When Ratna Bhandar of Puri Jagannath temple was opened 40 years ago

The article reports on the opening of the **Ratna Bhandar** (treasure house) of the **Jagannath Temple** in Puri, Odisha. The last time the Ratna Bhandar was opened was in 1985. In 2018, an attempt to enter the chambers ended abruptly within 40 minutes.

The Ratna Bhandar houses the rarest valuables of Lord Jagannath. The Odisha government is set to try again to enter the secret chambers on July 14. If successful, it will be four decades after people last ventured there.

The opening of the Ratna Bhandar was a significant issue in the 2024 Odisha Assembly election. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) promised to open the Ratna Bhandar and address the controversy surrounding the missing keys of its inner chamber. The BJP accused the previous Biju Janata Dal (BJD) government of mishandling the issue and suspected foul play. By opening the treasury, the BJP aims to restore public trust and ensure the safety of the temple’s valuable belongings.

Source: Conversation with Copilot
When Ratna Bhandar of Puri Jagannath temple was opened 40 years ago ….
https://www.indiatoday.in/history-of-it/story/jagannath-temple-odisha-puri-opened-1985-details-ratna-bhandar-inner-chamber-treasures-2565671-2024-07-12