Rayagada: Devotees donated more than ₹1.26 crore to the Maa Majhighariani Temple in Rayagada district, with the opening of nine temple hundis (donation boxes) on Monday yielding cash, gold, silver and foreign currencies, temple authorities said.
A total of ₹1,22,29,623 in Indian currency was recovered from the hundis, along with 32 grams of gold and 1.3 kg of silver. In addition, devotees contributed ₹3,97,251.35 through online donations to the temple trust, taking the total collection to ₹1,26,26,874.35.
Temple authorities said foreign currencies from nine countries were also recovered from the donation boxes. These included currencies from the United States, Canada, Australia, the United Arab Emirates, Nepal, Qatar and the Philippines, among others.
The counting process began around 10 am under tight security and was carried out with the assistance of more than 250 volunteers. The nine hundis were opened in the presence of revenue and police officials.
Temple Management Committee president Raisingh Bidika and other committee members supervised the counting. Committee members Debendra Behera, Radhakrushna Dalai, accountant S. Venkata Rao and other trust members were also present.
The temple attracts devotees from neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Chhattisgarh, besides other parts of the country and abroad, who make offerings to the presiding deity of Rayagada district.
According to temple records, the previous hundi opening on January 19 this year had yielded ₹1,05,52,845 in cash, along with 30 grams of gold and 2.15 kg of silver. During the corresponding exercise on July 7, 2025, the temple had received ₹1,04,36,963 in cash, 38 grams of gold, 2.505 kg of silver and foreign currencies from 12 countries.
Officials of Odisha Gramya Bank assisted in counting the donations. The collections will be deposited in the Maa Majhighariani Trust’s account maintained with the bank.
Odisha Gramya Bank’s Regional Manager Devesh Ranjan Dhar, Rayagada Branch Manager Bijay Kumar Barik, Rayagada Bazaar Branch Manager Prajna Ranjan Rath and other bank officials were present during the exercise.
