Renowned industrialist and senior member of the Shri Badrinath–Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC), Mahendra Sharma, on Friday donated ₹1.01 crore to the temple committee at Badrinath Dham. The cheque was handed over in a formal ceremony at the shrine, with BKTC Chairman Hemant Dwivedi warmly welcoming Sharma and thanking him for the generous contribution.
Dwivedi highlighted that Mahendra Sharma, a native of Himachal Pradesh, has been associated with the BKTC for over a decade and has consistently contributed to the development of pilgrimage sites and devotee facilities across India. He described the latest donation as highly commendable and said it sets a powerful example for other devotees to follow in supporting temple work and yatra welfare.
Mahendra Sharma said he has deep faith in Lord Badrinath and Lord Kedarnath, and that the donation is a reflection of that devotion. He expressed hope that the temple committee will utilise the funds for religious purposes and for the benefit of pilgrims. Other temple committee members and officials present on the occasion also acknowledged his generosity, and many devotees have praised Sharma for his seva‑driven bhakti.
The event coincided with the opening of the portals of Shri Badrinath Dham for devotees at 6:15 a.m. on Thursday, marked by traditional rituals, Vedic chants, and festive decorations. With Badrinath and Kedarnath now open, the Char Dham Yatra 2026 is in full swing.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said the opening of Badrinath completes the Char Dham opening, and wished all pilgrims a safe, well‑regulated, and spiritually uplifting yatra under the blessings of Bhagwan Badri Vishal.
