Bhubaneswar: The Jagannath temple administration announced on Monday that ratna bhandar, the treasury of Lord Jagannath, would be opened on Wednesday.

A team of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) officials, representatives of servitors, members of temple administration, including the collector, will inspect the inner chamber of the ratna bhandar to assess its condition.

Chief administrator of the temple P.K. Jena said: "We have had a lot of discussion on the issue and we have finally arrived at the decision to open it on April 4. All those who will go inside the Ratna Bhandar will have to wear gammucha (a traditional towel) provided by the temple authorities. The team members will be thoroughly frisked before entering the treasury."

Jena said: "During the period the inspection, the temple will be closed for the devotees. As soon as the inspection work is completed the devotees will be allowed to offer prayers to the deities."

Jena also made it clear that the officials before leaving the temple, will have to finalise their report and submit it to the temple administration. The chief administrator has also made it clear that they would only examine the condition of the roofs, ceilings and walls of the treasury but no inventory of the jewellery there would be made.

Precious gold jewellery, gems, pearls and rare diamonds apart from silver and other decorative items of the three presiding temple deities - Lord Jagannath, Goddess Subhadra and Lord Balabhadra - are stored in the Ratna Bhandar. The temple has been receiving donations from devotees across the country, the most illustrious of the donors being the Hindu kings of Odisha, Maharastra and Punjab.

A source said the temple administration would also ask the team members to give an undertaking not to reveal any thing about what they saw during the inspection to anyone. " A lot of deliberation is going on. An official order will issued on Monday explaining everything," said temple public relations officer Laxmidhar Pujapanda.