The Tirupati Balaji Temple in Tirumala experienced an extraordinary influx of donations on July 15, resulting in a remarkable total of Rs 96.98 crore collected within 24 hours. This surge in funds coincided with the impending implementation of a new donor policy, which was set to come into effect at midnight. The urgency among donors was particularly evident as they sought to ensure their contributions qualified under the previous policy before its revision took place.

The new policy will substantially alter the privileges previously extended to donors, including the elimination of lifetime benefits that had been available until now. Current donors, who made contributions prior to the policy change, will still retain these lifetime privileges, explaining the heightened level of donations leading up to the deadline on Tuesday night.

On that day alone, 2,460 donors participated, with contributions ranging widely. Out of these, 1,212 individuals donated between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 10 lakh, while 1,246 contributed between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 25 lakh, culminating in two substantial donations exceeding Rs 1 crore each. This considerable financial support underscores the temple’s status as one of the wealthiest religious institutions globally.

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams Board Responds

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Board, which manages the temple and associated facilities, noted that the significant increase in donations necessitated a revision of the existing privileges offered to contributors. TTD chairperson BR Naidu stated that the donor base has expanded notably in recent months, with nearly 3,000 new contributors donating over Rs 10 lakh within a span of four months. This change is aimed at enhancing transparency and consistency in managing donations.

The revised donor policy seeks to balance donor interests alongside those of regular pilgrims by optimising access and opportunities for all visitors to the temple. The TTD emphasised its commitment to ensuring that new procedures improve the overall experience for devotees.

Specific changes include the reclassification of donor contributions into four distinct slabs, based on the donation amount. Furthermore, the policy introduces separate provisions for individual donors and organizations or trusts. This move aims to streamline the donation process and maintain the integrity of the temple’s management.

Details of the New Donor Policy

Under the newly implemented policy, the privileges that were once granted for life will now be valid for a fixed duration: twenty years for individual donors and fifteen years for institutions or trusts. The TTD will also process darshans for all donors exclusively through an online Donor Management System, thereby reducing manual interventions and the need for special requests.

The changes outlined in the new policy do not apply retrospectively, meaning that existing donors will not lose any privileges that they have already secured. Consequently, this assurance has likely contributed to the record-breaking amount donated just before the midnight cutoff on July 15.

As of now, the temple boasts a registered donor base of 1,97,888 individuals, almost 1.5 lakh of whom have donated one lakh rupees or more, with around 22,000 contributors giving over ten lakh rupees. The net worth of the Tirupati temple stands at approximately Rs 3.38 lakh crore, an amount exceeding the GDP of several smaller nations.

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