Bhubaneswar, Jan 2: The Jagannath Temple in Puri witnessed a historic surge in donations on New Year’s Day, receiving Rs 10,94,074 in cash, along with 300 mg of gold and 33 grams of silver ornaments, as reported by the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA).

The contributions, made by thousands of devotees seeking blessings from Lord Jagannath and his siblings, were collected in the temple’s hundi (donation box) under the provisions of the Hundi Act, 1975. The SJTA counts and discloses the hundi collections daily.

Temple authorities confirmed that this year’s New Year’s Day donations are the highest ever recorded, far exceeding the usual daily contributions of Rs 4-5 lakh. Donations typically increase during festivals and special occasions, but this year’s turnout broke all previous records.

The funds will be utilized for the temple’s maintenance, development projects, and charitable initiatives, ensuring that the contributions benefit both the shrine and the community it serves.

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