Jammu, March 16: The Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine has witnessed a significant surge in pilgrim donations, with contributions rising from ₹63.85 crore in 2020-21 to ₹171.90 crore in the ongoing financial year (till January 2025), according to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB). The data, disclosed in response to an RTI query filed by Jammu-based activist Raman Sharma, also indicates a remarkable increase in gold and silver offerings at the revered temple.
The financial contributions made by devotees have seen a consistent upward trajectory over the past four years:
- ₹63.85 crore in FY 2020-21
- ₹166.68 crore in FY 2021-22
- ₹223.12 crore in FY 2022-23
- ₹231.50 crore in FY 2023-24
- ₹171.90 crore in FY 2024-25 (up to January)
In addition to financial contributions, the shrine has witnessed a significant surge in gold and silver offerings.
Gold donations surged from 9.075 kg in 2020-21 to 27.717 kg in 2024-25 (till January). The highest collection in the past five years was recorded in 2022-23 at 33.258 kg. Silver donations saw an even more dramatic increase, rising from 753.630 kg in 2020-21 to 3,424.538 kg in 2024-25. The peak collection was in 2023-24, with 4,072.486 kg of silver offerings.
The shrine board clarified that these metals are received in an impure form, and their exact value can only be determined after melting, refining, and assaying. The purified gold and silver, with .995 and .999 purity, are later minted into coins and made available for purchase at the shrine’s souvenir shops.
The increase in donations correlates with the rising number of pilgrims visiting the shrine. The COVID-19 pandemic caused a historic low in footfall, with only 17.20 lakh visitors in 2020, as the shrine remained closed for five months for the first time in its history. However, pilgrimage numbers have steadily recovered since then:
- 55.88 lakh in 2021
- 91.25 lakh in 2022
- 95.22 lakh in 2023
- 94.84 lakh in 2024
Historically, the shrine has seen a gradual increase in pilgrimage numbers since the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board took over its management in 1986. The highest recorded footfall was in 2012, when over 1.04 crore devotees visited the temple, surpassing 1.01 crore in 2011.