Bhubaneswar: The Jagannath Temple in Puri received donations worth about Rs 304.57 crore over the past 13 years and nearly 58kg of gold in the last 43 years, according to data presented in the Odisha assembly on Saturday.
State law minister Prithiviraj Harichandan, replying to a written question by BJD legislator Dhruba Charan Sahoo, said, “Between FY 2011–12 and 2024–25, devotees donated Rs 304.57 crore, while offerings of 58kg of gold were made between FY 1981–82 and 2024–25.”
“During the current fiscal year of 2024–25 alone, the temple’s hundi (donation box) collected Rs 18.59 crore in cash. Devotees also offered 3.44 kg of mixed gold and 33.65 kg of silver ornaments,” Harichandan’s written reply stated.
According to temple sources, the gold and silver offerings are kept in a bank locker daily. The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) said donations are received both online and offline under three schemes. In the general donation scheme, devotees can contribute any amount. In the corpus fund scheme, donations range from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 10 lakh, with donors entitled to privileges such as diya (lamp) and dhwaja (flag) offerings. Under the temple repair or renovation scheme, contributions start at Rs 500 and are exempt from income tax under Section 80G of the IT Act, 1961.
On July 4, 2025, CM Mohan Charan Majhi launched Digital Hundi – Samarpan, a secure online platform enabling devotees across India and abroad to make contributions from home. “Devotees worldwide consider it auspicious to begin sacred work by offering something to Lord Jagannath. The Samarpan platform connects devotees with the temple through a unified gateway integrated with the official SJTA portal, supporting multiple payment options,” Majhi said in his budget speech on Friday.
The new system also allows donations via QR codes. Banks have been advised to set up QR code stations outside the temple premises in coordination with SJTA and display them at ATMs, branches and other prominent locations in Puri to facilitate secure transactions.
“We always advise devotees to visit the official website <img src="https://www.shreejagannatha.in/" alt="Image" /> of the temple for donation details and remain vigilant against cyber fraud. They can also visit our office in Puri to donate directly,” an SJTA official said.
Debabrata Mohapatra is an Assistant Editor at The Times of India,...
Read MoreDebabrata Mohapatra is an Assistant Editor at The Times of India, Bhubaneswar. He had been writing for TOI from Puri since 2006 before joining the Bhubaneswar bureau in August 2010. He covers crime, law & order and Congress.
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