Dehradun: Annual offerings made by devotees at Shri Badrinath Dham, Kedarnath Temple and other shrines managed by the Badri-Kedar Temple Committee (BKTC) amount to nearly ₹80–85 crore, according to committee officials. The figures have come into focus following allegations of theft involving devotees’ offerings at Shri Badrinath Dham, prompting the committee to order an inquiry.
Donations exceed budgets of several state departments
According to BKTC officials, more than 45 temples managed by the committee receive annual offerings worth approximately ₹80–85 crore, with the average yearly donation remaining close to ₹80 crore.
Officials noted that the substantial donations are received even though the portals of Shri Badrinath Dham and Kedarnath Temple remain open to devotees only for a few months each year.
A comparison with the Uttarakhand Budget 2026–27 highlights the scale of the offerings. The Uttarakhand Public Service Commission has an annual allocation of ₹96 crore, the Excise Department has a budget of ₹55 crore, while the Raj Bhavan has an annual allocation of ₹18 crore.
Cash, gold and precious metals offered by devotees
A BKTC official said devotees contribute according to their faith and financial capacity.
While a majority of the donations are made in cash, devotees also offer gold, silver, precious metals, gemstones and other valuables as expressions of devotion.
The committee said the exact value of annual offerings varies each year depending on the number of pilgrims and the scale of donations received during the pilgrimage season.
Inquiry ordered into alleged theft
The donation figures have attracted attention after allegations surfaced on social media regarding the alleged misappropriation of devotees’ offerings at Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Dham.
Responding to the allegations, BKTC Chairman Hemant Dwivedi said the committee had acted within 24 hours by initiating an inquiry into the matter.
He said the allegations were taken seriously and show-cause notices had already been issued by the Chief Executive Officer to employees and officials associated with the counting of donations.
Findings to be made public
Dwivedi said the Temple Committee has constituted an inquiry panel with immediate effect to investigate the allegations.
He assured devotees that strict action would be taken against anyone found guilty after the investigation.
The chairman also stated that the findings of the inquiry committee would be made public once the investigation is completed, reaffirming the committee’s commitment to transparency and accountability in handling devotees’ offerings.