The temples in Brijbhumi region have witnessed a slump in their donations in wake of demonetisation of the high-currency notes.
Earlier, the pilgrims who used to make donations thorugh Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes are now using Rs 10 and Rs 20 denomination. There are worries that the decrease would adversely affect the charitable programmes run by these temples.
“There has been major slump in the donations of temples in all the pilgrim centres of India,” said Mahesh Pathak, national president of Akhil Bharatiya Tirth Purohit Mahasabha.
“The slump has been most in the temples of Brijbhumi as at an average over five lakh pilgrims visit the shrines daily and since the demonetisation announcement, the rush of pilgrims has come down,” he said.
However, the exact position would be only be known after the month of Karthik, Pathak added.
Kapil Sharma, Secretary of Sri Krishna Janmasthan Seva Sansthan, said, “The number of pilgrims visiting Sri Krishna Janmasthan has come down since withdrawal of higher currency notes. Still, the situation is better on Kartik Purnima today.”
He claimed that so far the income of temples has come down by 20 per cent.
Bankey Behari temple in Vrindaban has experienced a decrease in donations, even though there has been an increase in the number of pilgrims since Sunday, said a priest.
“Mostly the offerings are made through Rs 10 and Rs 20 notes as against Rs 100 and Rs 500 currency. Though the exact position would be known next month when Gullak (cash box) would be opened. However, the situation is very discouraging,” said priest of Bankey Behari temple, Anant Goswami.
The withdrawal of higher denomination currency has also affected the famous Dwarkadheesh temple in Mathura.
“There has been 80 per cent slump in the donation to the temple ever since notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 were withdrawn," Rakesh Tewari, the PRO of Dwarkadheesh temple said.