Digital hundi: Jagannath devotees worldwide can now donate from Re 1

Followers of Lord Jagannath across the world can now make offerings to the revered Puri shrine starting from as little as Re 1, with the Odisha government on Wednesday launching ‘Samarpan’, a digital hundi platform in a bid to ensure temple donations seamless, transparent and accessible from anywhere.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi inaugurated the platform at the office of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) in Puri on the eve of the annual Rath Yatra.

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The platform, jointly developed by the Odisha Computer Application Centre (OCAC) under the Electronics and Information Technology Department and the SJTA, has been integrated with the temple’s official portal to facilitate secure online donations.

One of the key features of the platform is that there is no minimum or maximum limit on contributions. Devotees can donate any amount according to their capacity, beginning from Re 1.

Those contributing to the temple’s Repair and Renovation Fund or Corpus Fund will also be eligible for income tax benefits on furnishing their Permanent Account Number (PAN), making the initiative attractive for both domestic and overseas donors.

Describing the initiative as more than a technological upgrade, Majhi said ‘Samarpan’ would serve as a sacred and transparent bridge connecting millions of Jagannath devotees worldwide with the 12th-century shrine. The donations collected through the platform, he said, would be utilised for the temple’s development, maintenance and preservation.

The Chief Minister said the digital hundi would enable devotees in India and abroad to offer contributions from their homes while strengthening the temple’s engagement with its global devotee community. He expressed confidence that the initiative would emerge as a milestone in preserving Lord Jagannath’s traditions and supporting the temple’s long-term development.

Along with the digital hundi, the government has also launched a dedicated web portal and a mobile application. Devotees can log in using their mobile number and a one-time password (OTP) and make donations through UPI, internet banking, debit and credit cards, and WhatsApp-based payments. A digital receipt will be generated instantly after every successful transaction.

The mobile application will also function as a comprehensive digital companion for pilgrims by providing information on temple rituals, announcements, latest updates and enabling online booking of accommodation at Bhakta Nivas.

Majhi said the project reflected the Odisha government’s commitment to transparent, technology-driven and citizen-centric governance. Several ministers, senior bureaucrats and temple officials, including Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan, Commerce and Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena, Puri MP Sambit Patra, Chief Secretary Anu Garg and SJTA Chief Administrator Aravind Kumar Padhee, attended the launch.