Front Gate of Puri Srimandir Ratna Bhandar to Get Gold-Plated Makeover

Puri: The Ratna Bhandar at Puri Srimandir is set to receive a gold-plated front gate, following a recent decision by the Srimandir Management Committee.

Currently, the gate of this treasure repository, housing valuables of Lord Jagannath and His siblings, blends in with other gates, making it hard for visitors to distinguish it.

To enhance the gate’s visibility and significance, the committee has resolved to use gold collected from the temple’s donation box (hundi). A formal request will be made to Chief Minister Mohan Majhi for permission to proceed, as stipulated by the Srimandir Hundi Act. The Chief Minister, along with the Finance Minister, oversees the management of gold and silver donations.

Madhab Mohapatra, a committee member, noted that the existing gate resembles a prison gate and that gold-plating it will highlight its importance. Approximately 25 to 30 kilograms of gold, currently stored in a State Bank of India locker, will be used for this purpose.