Key Points:
- Record Earnings: Mumbai’s Siddhivinayak Temple Trust reported a 16% rise in revenue, reaching ₹133 crore in FY 2024-25, up from ₹114 crore the previous year.
- Major Contributors: Donations, rituals, prasad sales, and gold-silver auctions were key income sources, with a record-breaking ₹1.33 crore earned from auctions on Gudi Padwa.
- Future Projections: The trust expects revenue to grow to ₹154 crore in FY 2025-26, driven by administrative reforms and increased footfall.
- Social Initiatives: A significant portion of earnings is allocated to welfare programs, including medical aid and education for underprivileged children.
Mumbai: The Siddhivinayak Temple Trust in Mumbai has achieved a new milestone by recording an annual revenue of ₹133 crore for the financial year 2024-25, marking a 16% increase compared to the previous fiscal year. This growth has been attributed to higher donations, efficient administration, and increased sales of prasad items like laddoos and coconut vadi. The trust has also projected earnings of ₹154 crore for the current financial year.
Breakdown of Revenue Sources
The temple’s income is derived from multiple streams:
- Donations and Offerings: Devotees contributed generously through donation boxes and online payments.
- Rituals and Prasad Sales: Rituals generated ₹20 crore, while prasad sales saw a 32% increase compared to FY 2023-24. The temple distributes approximately 10,000 laddoos daily.
- Gold and Silver Auctions: A record-breaking ₹1.33 crore was earned from gold and silver auctions on Gudi Padwa, significantly higher than the ₹75 lakh earned during the same event last year.
Deputy Executive Officer Sandeep Rathod credited the rise in revenue to improved temple management. “By streamlining darshan queues and enhancing the devotee experience, we have seen an increase in footfall and donations,” he explained. Devotees now enjoy 10–15 seconds for darshan compared to just 5–7 seconds at other large shrines.
Social Welfare Initiatives
A substantial portion of the revenue is allocated to social welfare programs:
- Medical Aid: Financial assistance is provided for patients suffering from 18 types of diseases. The temple also operates a dialysis center.
- Education Support: The trust funds education for children of farmers who have committed suicide and offers book banks for college students.
- Community Development: Other initiatives include free meals for devotees and support for underprivileged communities.
Veena Patil, CEO of the Siddhivinayak Temple Trust, emphasized the importance of using donations for societal benefit. “We ensure that offerings are channeled back into welfare activities to uplift those in need,” she said.
Comparison with Other Temples
Siddhivinayak’s earnings place it among India’s wealthiest temples:
- Padmanabhaswamy Temple (Kerala): Estimated net worth of ₹1.2 lakh crore.
- Golden Temple (Punjab): Annual income of ₹500 crore.
- Vaishno Devi Temple (Jammu): Received over ₹2,000 crore in donations over two decades.
- Shirdi Sai Baba Temple (Maharashtra): Earned ₹900 crore in FY 2022-23.
Despite its relatively smaller size compared to these temples, Siddhivinayak’s innovative management practices have set a benchmark for efficiency.
Future Outlook
Looking ahead, the trust aims to further enhance its facilities and devotee experience. With projected earnings of ₹154 crore in FY 2025-26, the temple plans to expand its welfare initiatives while maintaining its focus on efficient administration.
The success story of Siddhivinayak Temple underscores how effective management can transform religious institutions into centers of community development and social impact.
