Silver donated for Kedarnath beautification

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, September 13

A Delhi-based trader has donated two quintal silver for the beautification of sanctum sanctorum at Kedarnath.The Kedarnath valley has undergone large scale renovation after the 2013 natural disaster. Apart from government assistance, private donations have also come handy in undertaking renovation work at the temple.

BD Singh, Chief Executive officer of Badri Kedar temple committee, said that a trader from Delhi had some time back expressed desire to donate two quintal silver for the beautification of sanctum sanctorum at the temple, which had been accepted by the committee. He said apart from donating silver, the trader had also sent artisans to Kedarnath for putting silver plates on the inner walls of the sanctum sanctorum.

BD Singh said the work would be completed during the ongoing Char Dham Yatra. He disclosed that so far Rs five crore had been received as donation at Kedarnath shrine.

In 2015, Murari Bapu donated Rs one crore for beautification of the temple. He also donated Rs 80 lakh to the temple. Industrialist Mukesh Ambani also donated Rs 50 lakh to the temple last year.

Badrinath shrine gets 7.5 lakh pilgrims

Dehradun: More than 7.5 lakh pilgrims from all over the world visited the Badrinath shrine this year breaking the lull since the 2013 disaster, an official said today. The last time such a large footfall was achieved was in 2010, three years before the disaster struck the annual Char Dham pilgrimage when flash floods left thousands dead and hundreds missing. In 2013, 9.25 lakh pilgrims visited the shrine. According to officials of the Temple Trust, the Badrinath shrine received Rs 11.50 crore in donation and other offerings between May 6 and September 10. The shrine opened on May 6 after a long winter break. The Chief Executive Officer of the Trust, B.D. Singh said the number could rise till the shrine closes for the winter break. — IANS