What's Behind Dip In Festive Revenue At Bengaluru's Banashankari Temple?

Bengaluru's richest temple Banashankari records an eight per cent dip in the festive revenue this year due to a sudden hike in ticket prices for the 'special darshan.'

The temple's revenue over the 31 days amounted to only Rs 46.9 lakh, a decrease from Rs 51 lakh during the same period last year. The annual car festival in the last week of January attracted thousands of devotees from various parts of the state and adjoining Tamil Nadu throughout the month.

"The slump was due to an increase in ticket prices of special 'darshan.' The Rs 50 tickets were sold at Rs 100 this time and we received around Rs 3 lakh revenue out of these tickets," said a senior Muzrai official who acknowledges this decline.

Apart from this dip, some devotees even surprised many by placing 'kumkum' and turmeric on Shakti scheme bus tickets and depositing them in the donation boxes. Approximately 25 such bus tickets were found.

In addition to this, devotees also made contributions in foreign currencies, including US and Australian dollars and Dirhams from Dubai.

Some devotees display generosity by donating 86 grams of gold, 360 grams of silver ornaments and 628 saris in silk and cotton material.

The Muzrai department has introduced digital facilities for various services, allowing devotees to book tickets, select multiple 'sevas' through an online portal or mobile app, and book 'darshan' accordingly so that the devotees need not stand in long queues.