Mata Vaishno Devi shrine records massive increase in pilgrim donations in 5 years

Replying to an RTI application filed by Jammu-based activist Raman Sharma, the shrine board said an amount of Rs 63.85 crore were received as donation or offering in the FY 2020-21 followed by Rs 166.68 crore in FY 2021-22, Rs 223.12 crore in FY 2022-23, Rs 231.50 crore in FY 2023-24 and Rs 171.90 crore in FY 2024-25 (upto January this year).

From 13.95 lakh in 1986, when the shrine board took over the affairs of the shrine for better management, there has been a steady increase of pilgrim footfalls with each passing year, touching an all time high of 1.04 crore in 2012 against 1.01 crore the previous year.

In the response to the query about the total value of jewellery or ornaments like gold offered by the pilgrims at the shrine, the board said over 9.075 kgs gold was received in the FY 2020-21, 26.351 kgs in FY 2021-22, 33.258 kgs in FY 2022-23, 23.477 kgs in FY 2023-24 and 27.717 kgs in FY 2024-25 (up to January this year).

Similarly, 753.630 kgs silver was received in FY 2020-21, 2,400.705 kgs in FY 2021-22, 3,756.582 kgs FY 2022-23, 4,072.486 kgs in FY 2023-24 and 3,424.538 kgs in FY 2024-25 up to January this year, the board said.

The board said the metals are received in impure form and the value cannot be ascertained until refined. The yellow metal appearing like gold and the white metal appearing like silver after melting, assaying, refining and fabrication into coins of .995 and .999 purity is put for sale at the souvenir shops, it said.

Replying to an RTI application filed by Jammu-based activist Raman Sharma, the shrine board said an amount of Rs 63.85 crore were received as donation or offering in the FY 2020-21 followed by Rs 166.68 crore in FY 2021-22, Rs 223.12 crore in FY 2022-23, Rs 231.50 crore in FY 2023-24 and Rs 171.90 crore in FY 2024-25 (upto January this year).

From 13.95 lakh in 1986, when the shrine board took over the affairs of the shrine for better management, there has been a steady increase of pilgrim footfalls with each passing year, touching an all time high of 1.04 crore in 2012 against 1.01 crore the previous year.

In the response to the query about the total value of jewellery or ornaments like gold offered by the pilgrims at the shrine, the board said over 9.075 kgs gold was received in the FY 2020-21, 26.351 kgs in FY 2021-22, 33.258 kgs in FY 2022-23, 23.477 kgs in FY 2023-24 and 27.717 kgs in FY 2024-25 (up to January this year).

Similarly, 753.630 kgs silver was received in FY 2020-21, 2,400.705 kgs in FY 2021-22, 3,756.582 kgs FY 2022-23, 4,072.486 kgs in FY 2023-24 and 3,424.538 kgs in FY 2024-25 up to January this year, the board said.

The board said the metals are received in impure form and the value cannot be ascertained until refined. The yellow metal appearing like gold and the white metal appearing like silver after melting, assaying, refining and fabrication into coins of .995 and .999 purity is put for sale at the souvenir shops, it said.