TDB stores sacred gold ornaments in plastic covers and old boxes: Report recommends digital database and modern preservation measures
KOCHI: Sacred Thiruvabharanam— the gold and silver ornaments adorned by deities during special occasions—are being stored in plastic covers and old boxes inside strongrooms of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), with concerns raised over inadequate security, conservation and documentation.
A report submitted by the Thiruvabharanam Commissioner following a directive of the Kerala High Court has highlighted several shortcomings in the existing system of storage and management of the sacred ornaments. The report has recommended a uniform and scientific system for their security, conservation, storage, transfer and documentation.
For clarity, “articles” in this report refers to sacred items such as ornaments and other gold or silver objects used for poojas, rituals and temple festivals.
According to the report, many ornaments are kept in plastic covers that are then placed inside old wooden boxes or, in some locations, iron boxes. Register numbers on the articles are often difficult to read, while multiple ornaments are stored together in the same box, making identification and verification more difficult.
The commissioner also noted that a considerable quantity of gold and silver articles stored in the strongrooms has become unusable for poojas and festivals because of age, damage, breakage and other reasons.
These articles occupy substantial storage space and increase the time and effort required for identification, counting and verification during inventory checks.
The report suggested that consideration may be given periodically to converting gold and silver articles that are unusable and cannot be restored into bars.
Digital database proposed
The commissioner recommended creating a digital database for every Thiruvabharanam. The database should contain details such as:
- Unique asset number
- Devaswom, group and subgroup
- Weight
- Type of metal
- Number of gemstones
- Transfer history
The report also recommended that every ornament be stored separately in transparent, chemical-resistant archival-quality pouches to protect them from deterioration.
Several pouches belonging to the same devaswom could then be placed in specially designed stainless-steel or aluminium trays. Each tray should have a recorded list of its contents along with a QR code or RFID system for easier identification and tracking.
Modern storage system recommended
For strongrooms, the report proposed installing stainless-steel modular locker cabinets with separately numbered compartments. Each compartment would be designated for trays belonging to specific devaswoms.
The commissioner recommended replacing traditional wooden boxes and ordinary plastic covers with:
- Archival-quality non-reactive pouches
- Acid-free cushioned containers
- Fire-resistant metal trays
- 304-grade stainless-steel cabinets
The proposed measures are aimed at improving the long-term preservation and security of the sacred ornaments while making inventory, identification and transfer procedures more systematic and transparent.