BKTC receives Rs 80-85 crore annual offerings, more than several Uttarakhand govt dept budgets
Dehradun, July 5
Annual offerings made by devotees at Shri Badrinath Dham, Kedarnath Temple and other shrines managed by the Badri-Kedar Temple Committee amount to nearly Rs 80-85 crore, exceeding the annual budgets of several Uttarakhand government departments, according to BKTC officials.
The figures have drawn attention following the recent revelation of an alleged theft involving devotees' offerings at Shri Badrinath Dham.
According to BKTC officials, more than 45 temples under the Badri-Kedar Temple Committee (BKTC) receive annual offerings worth approximately Rs 80-85. While the exact amount varies from year to year, the committee receives an average of nearly Rs 80 crore in donations. Notably, this is despite the fact that the portals of both Shri Badrinath Dham and Kedarnath Temple remain open to devotees for only a few months each year.
A BKTC official said devotees make offerings according to their faith and financial capacity.
"Most donations are made in cash, but devotees also offer gold, silver, precious metals, gemstones and other valuables as a mark of their devotion," the official said.
A comparison with the annual budgets of several Uttarakhand government departments highlights the scale of these offerings. According to the Uttarakhand Budget for 2026-27, the Public Service Commission has an annual allocation of Rs 96 crore, the Excise Department has a budget of Rs 55 crore, and the Raj Bhavan's annual allocation stands at Rs 18 crore.
In comparison, the BKTC alone receives an average of around Rs 80 crore annually through devotees' offerings.
This comes amid allegations circulating on social media regarding the alleged misappropriation of donations and offerings at the Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Dham.
Earlier, Shri Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) Chairman Hemant Dwivedi said the committee has constituted an inquiry panel to investigate the matter and that strict action will be taken against anyone found guilty.
In a self-made video on Saturday, Dwivedi said the Temple Committee had taken the allegations circulating on social media seriously and initiated action within 24 hours.
"Regarding the news and allegations circulating on social media concerning the alleged misappropriation of donations and offerings at the Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Dham, I wish to state that the Temple Committee has taken this matter very seriously. Notices--specifically show-cause notices--have already been issued by our Chief Executive Officer to all employees and officials involved in the counting process," he said.
Dwivedi said an inquiry committee had been constituted with immediate effect and that its findings would be made public.
— ANI
Reader Comments
As a frequent pilgrim to Kedarnath, I'm not surprised. The sheer number of devotees during the season is overwhelming. But why is a temple committee's income being compared to government department budgets? The real question should be about accountability—why is there no independent audit of these funds? The state government should step in to ensure every rupee is tracked.
The comparison with Raj Bhavan's budget of Rs 18 crore is interesting but misleading. Temples are places of faith, not government departments. The issue is that such huge amounts of cash are vulnerable to theft or mismanagement. I'm glad the BKTC has initiated an inquiry into the misappropriation allegations. Let's wait for the findings before jumping to conclusions.
Coming from the US, I find this fascinating. In India, the line between faith and finance is incredibly blurred. While I respect the devotion, it's alarming that such a huge amount is handled with limited digital tracking. Digital payment options like UPI at these temples could significantly reduce cash handling and potential theft. India's temple management needs modernization.
As a devotee, I don't mind contributing to the temple—it's my faith. But I want to know my donation is being used well. The fact that the BKTC earns more than the Excise Department's budget is shocking. The state government should ensure at least 20% of these offerings go towards community welfare projects in Uttarakhand. That would make the donations truly meaningful.
The timing of this revelation is interesting—right after the theft allegations. While I appreciate the BKTC chairman's prompt action, the optics are concerning. With such huge offerings, why is there no real-time CCTV monitoring of counting areas? Also, the committee should consider outsourcing the counting process to a private audit firm for better transparency. Faith and accountability can go hand in hand.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.