Ayodhya: The newly constructed Ram temple in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, has witnessed a surge of donations from devotees across the country and abroad. In a month after its consecration on January 22, 2024, the temple received donations worth about Rs 25 crore, including 25 kg of gold and silver jewelry, according to the Ram Mandir Trust.
The trust’s office in charge, Prakash Gupta, said that the donations came in various forms, such as cheques, drafts, cash, online transfers, and items made of gold and silver. He said that the trust has issued receipts for all the donations received at its office and has also installed donation boxes in the temple premises for the convenience of the devotees.
Gupta said that about 60 lakh devotees have visited the temple since January 23, 2024, and expressed their devotion to Lord Ram by offering gifts and donations. He said that some of the gifts, such as gold and silver items, jewelry, and utensils, cannot be used in the temple construction or decoration, but the trust is accepting them as a mark of respect for the devotees’ sentiments.
He said that the trust expects an increase in donations during the upcoming Ram Navami festival, which falls on April 21, 2024. He said that around 50 lakh devotees are likely to visit Ayodhya during that time and offer generous donations to the temple. To handle the large amount of cash, the trust has collaborated with the State Bank of India, which has installed four automatic counting machines at the temple site.
Gupta said that the trust has also set up a dozen computerized counters to issue receipts and has kept additional donation boxes on the temple premises. He said that the trust is planning to build a large and well-equipped counting room in the temple complex soon.
The trust’s trustee, Anil Mishra, said that the trust has entrusted the Government of India Mint with the responsibility of melting and evaluating the gold and silver jewelry and precious materials given to Ram Lalla as a gift. He said that the mint will also issue certificates for the value and purity of the metals.
Mishra said that the trust has also signed a memorandum of understanding with the State Bank of India, according to which the bank will take the entire responsibility of collecting, counting, and depositing the donations, cheques, drafts, and cash in the trust’s bank accounts. He said that the bank has deployed a team of personnel who are working in two shifts daily to count the donated cash.
The Ram temple, which is being built on the site of the demolished Babri Masjid, was consecrated on January 22, 2024, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who performed the bhoomi pujan and laid the foundation stone. The temple is expected to be completed by 2026 and will have a grand design and architecture, inspired by the ancient temples of India.
