Bhuaneswar : The financial assets of the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri have crossed Rs 1,912 crore, with the temple administration disclosing details of its fixed deposits and balances in various bank accounts as part of an effort to strengthen transparency and public accountability.
According to the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), as of August 31, 2026, a total of Rs 1,811 crore, Rs 9 lakh, Rs 58 thousand and Rs 283 has been kept in fixed deposits under three major heads — the Corpus Fund, Foundation Fund and Temple Fund.
Of this amount, Rs 1,311 crore, Rs 9 lakh, Rs 58 thousand and Rs 283 is deposited with various public sector banks. The remaining Rs 500 crore represents the corpus contribution provided by the Odisha government and maintained in the temple’s Personal Ledger (PL) account.
In addition to the fixed deposits, the temple maintains Rs 100 crore, Rs 70 lakh, Rs 66 thousand and Rs 868 in various savings, current and flexi bank accounts. Taken together, these deposits and account balances place the temple’s disclosed bank assets at around Rs 1,912 crore.
The SJTA released the financial details on Wednesday, stating that the disclosure was aimed at keeping devotees and the general public informed about the management of donations and the temple’s financial resources.
Multiple sources of temple revenue
The temple administration said the income of the shrine comes from several sources. These include offerings and donations made by devotees, revenue generated from temple-owned mines and quarries, interest earned on fixed deposits, proceeds from land transactions, land acquisition and sale, as well as government grants.
The administration follows a system under which specified portions of the temple’s income are allocated to different funds. A designated share is placed in fixed deposits as the Corpus Fund, while another portion is maintained under the Foundation Fund.
The remaining income is credited to the Temple Fund, which is used to meet the temple’s regular financial requirements, including expenses related to daily rituals, religious services and administrative operations.
According to the SJTA, any surplus remaining in the Temple Fund after meeting the required expenditure is subsequently placed in fixed deposits. This mechanism is intended to strengthen the temple’s financial security and preserve its assets for future generations.
Government’s Rs 500-crore corpus contribution
A significant component of the temple’s present financial position is the Rs 500-crore corpus contribution made by the Odisha government in June 2024.
The amount is maintained in the temple’s PL account, while the remaining fixed deposits are held with various public sector banks.
The temple administration has emphasised that systematic accounting, regular audits and institutional financial controls are in place to ensure accountability in the management of the shrine’s funds.
Chief Administrator Dr Arabinda Kumar Padhee said the administration was committed to maintaining transparency in the handling of devotees’ contributions and temple resources.
Daily hundi counting and digital donations
The administration has also highlighted measures taken to make the handling of devotees’ offerings more transparent.
According to the SJTA, the money collected through the temple’s hundi is counted every day, with the details subsequently displayed on official notice boards and digital platforms so that devotees can access the information.
The temple has also expanded digital avenues for devotees wishing to make offerings.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi launched the digital hundi platform ‘Samarpan’ on July 15 this year. Since its launch and up to the end of August, devotees have contributed Rs 56.70 lakh through the online donation system, according to the temple administration.
The initiative is aimed at providing devotees with a convenient digital mechanism for making contributions while also strengthening the traceability of donations.
Devotee donations have risen over the years
The SJTA data indicates that donations to the temple have generally increased over the years.
During 2021-22, the temple received approximately Rs 8.23 crore through the hundi, ₹6.83 crore through bank accounts and Rs 2.25 crore through other sources.
In 2022-23, the corresponding figures increased to approximately Rs 15.46 crore, Rs 30.72 crore and Rs 4.62 crore, respectively.
During 2023-24, the temple received approximately Rs 16.92 crore through the hundi, Rs 22.24 crore through bank accounts and Rs 8.73 crore through other sources.
The figures underline the significant scale of financial contributions made by devotees and the importance of maintaining robust systems for accounting and safeguarding the temple’s resources.
Gold and silver offerings
Devotees also make offerings in the form of gold and silver. According to the figures released by the temple administration, gold received through the hundi and other sources stood at approximately 3.06 kg in 2021-22, 3.74 kg in 2022-23 and 5.04 kg in 2023-24.
Silver collections during the three financial years were approximately 24.83 kg, 108.18 kg and 81.11 kg, respectively.
The administration said precious metals received through various channels are used, where required, for the repair and maintenance of temple ornaments and for religious rituals and associated requirements.
After such utilisation, the remaining gold and silver are kept securely either within the temple or in designated bank lockers maintained by the temple administration.
Part of donations used for daily operations
The SJTA has also outlined how smaller donations and a portion of hundi collections are utilised.
According to the administration, 10 per cent of the money received through the temple hundi, along with donations of less than Rs 500 received through other channels, is utilised for the temple’s day-to-day activities.
The remaining financial resources are managed through the temple’s various funds and investment mechanisms.
Focus on accountability and security
The disclosure comes amid growing emphasis on the transparent management of the financial and material assets of the centuries-old shrine, which receives devotees from across India and abroad.
With fixed deposits exceeding ₹1,811 crore and total disclosed bank balances approaching ₹1,912 crore, the SJTA has sought to underline that the financial resources of the Shree Jagannath Temple are being managed through structured funds, banking channels and established accounting mechanisms.
For millions of devotees who contribute their offerings to Mahaprabhu Jagannath, the administration said, transparency in the management of these resources remains an important component of public trust and institutional accountability.
