Gopeshwar, April 25
An industrialist from Himachal Pradesh has donated Rs 1.01 crore to the Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee following the reopening of the Himalayan shrines for the current pilgrimage season.
Mahinder Sharma, chairman and managing director of ANS Constructions Private Ltd, handed over the cheque to committee chairman Hemant Dwivedi on Friday. With this contribution, Sharma has become the first devotee to donate more than Rs 1 crore since the temples reopened this year.
Sharma has been associated with the temple committee for around a decade, reflecting his continued involvement in the administration and support of the shrines. The donation comes soon after the annual opening of the pilgrimage sites, which draw thousands of devotees.
The Kedarnath temple reopened to pilgrims on April 22, while the Badrinath temple opened on April 23, marking the beginning of the Char Dham yatra season in Uttarakhand.
The contribution is expected to support the management and facilities for pilgrims during the ongoing yatra period, as authorities prepare for increased footfall in the coming weeks.
