Officials counting currency donated by devotees of Saundatti Yallamma Temple in Belagavi district.
Devotees have donated nearly ₹2 crore to the temple hundi of Saundatti Yallamma temple in Belagavi district, officials said.
Officials, including some bank employees on deputation and members of the Yallamma Temple Development Authority, counted donations valued at around ₹1.99 lakh, including ₹1,72,65,507 in cash, ₹15.10 lakh in gold ornaments, and ₹11.51 lakh in silver ornaments. Some devotees have donated foreign currency notes of minor denomination.
Three teams of around 30 officials counted the donations in three rounds starting from January 19.
The temple is the religious tourism centre in the State with the highest footfall of around three crore people., Devotees tend to visit the mountain top town every day, but their number increases on full moon days. Around three million people visit the temple during the annual temple fair and Banada Hunnime celebrations.
Siddu Hulloli, secretary of the authority, and Nagarathna Cholin, deputy secretary, were present.
Vishwas Vaidya, MLA, told reporters in Belagavi on Friday that the donations would be used for the development of the temple.
Mohammad Roshan, Deputy Commissioner, said that the development of the temple complex and Saundatti town were in full swing with various works, such as laying of roads, drinking water supply, yatri nivas, waiting rooms and animal shelters, in progress.
Published – January 24, 2026 06:01 pm IST
