Puri: To enhance devotee convenience and temple transparency, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Wednesday inaugurated the state-of-the-art digital hundi ‘Samarpan’ at Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (STJA) office in Odisha’s Puri, just a day before Rath Yatra.
The newly introduced “Samarpan” mobile app and web portal will now enable devotees to make secure, hassle-free donations to the 12th-century shrine from the comfort of their homes. “The ‘Samarpan’ digital Hundi is not merely a technological reform; it is a sacred and transparent bridge connecting millions of devotees of Lord Jagannath across the globe directly to the temple. The funds collected through this medium will be utilised exclusively for the conservation, development, and maintenance of the temple,” the CM said.
Majhi described the project as a milestone that will help preserve the traditions of Lord Jagannath and support its all-round development.
The digital platform has been developed by the Odisha Computer Applicatio
n Centre (OCAC) under the Electronics and Information Technology Department, in collaboration with the SJTA. It is seamlessly integrated with the official SJTA portal, ensuring complete security and transparency in donations.
The user-friendly mobile app and web portal enable devotees to log in easily using their mobile number and OTP. Multiple payment options have been provided, including UPI, internet banking, debit/credit cards, and even WhatsApp payments. Upon successful donation, devotees will receive an instant digital receipt for download. There is no minimum or maximum limit for donations. Devotees can contribute as little as ₹1 or any amount according to their capacity. Those donating to the temple’s ‘Repair and Renovation’ and ‘Corpus’ funds can also avail income tax benefits by providing their PAN details.
Beyond donations, the ‘Samarpan’ app will serve as a comprehensive digital companion for devotees. It will provide general information about the temple, daily ritual (Niti) announcements, latest updates, and facilities for booking rooms at Bhakta Nivas for pilgrims visiting Puri.
The Chief Minister emphasized that the project reflects the Odisha government’s commitment to transparency and people-centric governance.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan, Commerce and Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena, Puri MP Sambit Patra, Pipili MLA Ashrit Pattnaik, Satyabadi MLA Om Prakash Mishra, Chief Secretary Anu Garg, Additional Chief Secretary (Information & Public Relations) Hemant Kumar Sharma, and SJTA Chief Administrator Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhi, among others.