The Mohan Charan Majhi government in Odisha has increased the financial aid given to temples across the state, raising the total grant from ₹5 crore to ₹7.5 crore. Law minister Prithviraj Harichandan shared this information in a written reply in the Assembly. Government records show that Odisha has more than 18,000 temples under the endowment commission, and 4,145 of them currently receive state grants to support their daily functioning and rituals.
Over the last five years, these temples have received ₹26.50 crore to conduct religious events, rituals and meet essential expenses. Harichandan said the increased amount will help temples with maintenance, electricity, rituals and other operational needs. “We are hopeful that the enhanced amount will help the temples manage costs more smoothly,” he said.
Since the BJP came to power in Odisha, temples have become a central focus. One of the government’s first major decisions was to open all four gates of the Puri Shree Jagannath Temple, a long-standing demand of devotees. It also ordered the opening of the Ratna Bhandar, the temple treasury, for inspection after many decades.
Political observers say the BJP, which has a strong Hindu vote base, seems to believe that visible efforts in temple development and preservation will strengthen its support further. Chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi has also been visiting important shrines, including the Ghatagaon Tarini temple in Keonjhar, and has announced several plans for their development and beautification.
