Inspection of the first room of the Ratna Bhandar (storehouse of ornaments) of Lord Jagannath Temple on Wednesday revealed cracks on the wall and ceiling. The walls were found to be damp. The Ratna Bhandar, a mysterious sacred place , was opened after a gap of 34 years.

A team comprising select priests and Archaeological Survey of India officials prayed at the Lokanath Temple on Wednesday morning in the premises of the Jagannath Temple before venturing to unlock the Ratna Bhandar. Elaborate arrangements had been made.

The aura of mystery surrounding the Ratna Bhandar, legends and stories attached to it had created much anxiety among people across the state and the Temple administration in particular.

This time around the Archaeological Survey of India which is in charge of protection and conservation of the 12th century Jagannath Temple sought to open the Ratna Bhandar to check the ceiling and walls ~ not the ornaments.

A 16-member team comprising ASI officers, select temple priests, representative of the Puri Maharaja, High Court-appointed amicus curiae N K Mohanty, all of whom wore dhotis, entered the first of the three rooms, made a quick inspection and returned.

They had all taken a vow of secrecy and were asked not to speak on what they saw inside the Ratna Bhandar.

Minutes after they entered , one of the members G C Mitra came out as he had stumbled upon something and had hurt his feet. “The team members entered the Ratna Bhandar through the Jagamohan at around 2.25 pm and examined thoroughly the outer Ratna Bhandar. The Ratna Bhandar door was opened in presence of Puri Gajapati Maharaj’s representative, Ratna Bhandar Mekap and temple rituals administrator ” Shree Jagannath Temple Administration chief Mr P K Jena said.

“The inspection team members found the wall and roof of the Ratna Bhandar wet. They did not enter further as the team could clearly see the wall and roof of the inner portion of Ratna Bhandar through a high-powered search light. The preliminary report about the inspection of Ratna Bhandar is being prepared by the ASI. We will go through the report and submit it to the High Court”, he said.

Asked why the team did not venture into the other inner rooms of the Bhandar, Jena said they did not find it necessary and they had a fair view with the searchlights. The story doing the rounds in Puri, however, was that there was a difference of opinion among the team members on going into the other two rooms.