Temples biggest holders of gold in India

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Ever wondered how much gold India’s most visited and wealthiest temples own? Well Indians and their love for gold is often spoken of, yet the donations in gold made to India’s religious places is something which tells different tale.

According to a media report, one of India’s most visited temples, Vaishno Devi has received 1,800 kgs of gold, over 4,700 kgs of silver and a whopping Rs 2,000 crore cash from devotees in the last two decades. The revelation came after an RTI was filed by Kumaon-based activist Hemant Gauniya.

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), which manages the affairs of the famous Sri Venkateswara Temple, has pure gold reserves of over 9,000 kg.

The TTD said that it has 7,235 kg of the yellow metal deposited with two nationalised banks under different gold deposit schemes and around 1,934 kg gold in its treasury, which includes 1,381 kg which it recently got back from Punjab National Bank last month following the end of a three-year term of gold deposit scheme.

The TTD Board, the highest decision-making body, is yet to decide on the bank where 1,381 kg gold will be deposited. According to sources, it was studying various gold deposit schemes and would opt for the one which offers the best returns. The 553 kg gold in TTD treasury comprises small jewellery and other items offered by the devotees.

When it comes to religious donations, we know how big the hearts of Indians are. In the name of faith, huge donations are made in Indian temples everyday and Jammu’s Vaishno Devi Temple is a prime example of it.

The RTI also revealed that around 50 lakh people visited the temple in 2000, while 80 lakh visited the temple in both 2018 and 2019. The number further rose to over 1 crore in 2011 and 2012- the highest tourist footfall in the last 20 years. However, due to coronavirus pandemic, only around 17 lakh people visited the temple in 2020.