Ram Temple witnesses decline in donations and devotee turnout amid theft allegations

The Ram Temple offerings theft case has impacted both daily cash donations and the number of devotees visiting the shrine.

Cash offerings at the Ram Temple have also declined. According to reports, during previous counting exercises, bundles of Rs 100, Rs 200 and Rs 500 notes were more common. However, the latest count saw a higher proportion of Rs 10, Rs 20 and Rs 50 notes.

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Sources attribute the change to a shift in the way devotees are making donations following the recent controversy over alleged embezzlement of offerings.

However, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has not issued an official statement regarding the reported decline in either the number of devotees or the cash offerings.

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple is also witnessing a decline in footfall. Until June, around one lakh devotees visited Ram Lalla every day. That number has now reportedly dropped to around 60,000 daily. The decline in visitors is also impacting the businesses around the temple.

Merchants selling offerings and puja materials, and those operating hotels and restaurants, and dealing in businesses along the Ram Path and in the temple area, say the decline in the number of devotees has affected their sales. Some traders believe the recent controversy has affected devotees’ sentiments, leading to a decline in footfall.

A shopkeeper said the theft of offerings had definitely impacted business. “The number of devotees has suddenly decreased. Earlier, my daily income was between Rs 2,000 and Rs 2,500. Now it has come down to Rs 500-Rs 700.

However, another shopkeeper disagreed, claiming that the number of devotees typically decreases every July due to the reopening of schools and colleges, the monsoon season, and the end of summer vacation. He contended that the drop should not be attributed solely to the offering theft case.

Meanwhile, the number of passengers arriving by train has also declined. Around 84 trains are currently operating daily. While 40,000 to 50,000 pilgrims used to arrive every day in July, the number has now dropped to 20,000 to 25,000. However, air traffic has remained largely unaffected. Currently, around 10 flights operate daily, bringing in approximately 1,500 to 1,600 passengers.