Anant Ambani pledges ₹18cr for temple, animal welfare in Kerala
What's the story
Anant Ambani, the Executive Director of Reliance Industries Limited, has pledged ₹18 crore for the development of temple infrastructure as well as animal welfare in Kerala. The donation includes ₹6 crore to Rajarajeshwara Temple and Guruvayur Temple. Ambani also committed ₹12 crore for the restoration of East Gopuram at Rajarajeshwara Temple.
Temple visit
Ambani visited Rajarajeshwara Temple on April 2
Ambani visited Rajarajeshwara Temple in Taliparamba on April 2. He made traditional offerings such as Ponnumkudam, Pattam, Thaali, Neyyamrutu, and performed Ashwamedha Namaskaram. During the visit, he handed over a cheque of ₹3 crore for ongoing renovation work at the historic East Gopuram at the temple which had been in a state of disrepair for over two centuries.
Infrastructure improvement
Ambani also visited Guruvayur Temple
The funds pledged by Ambani will also be used to improve parking and other facilities at the temple. This is part of a broader effort to improve the experience for pilgrims visiting the site. Earlier on the same day, he had visited Guruvayur Temple and offered prayers to Lord Guruvayurappan while donating ₹3 crore to its trust.
Animal care
Support for elephant welfare initiatives at Guruvayur
Ambani also pledged support for elephant welfare initiatives at Guruvayur. These include plans for an elephant hospital, a chain-free shelter, and modern facilities to ensure humane care for temple elephants. The effort is part of his work with Vantara, an animal rescue and rehabilitation initiative by Reliance Foundation in Jamnagar, Gujarat.
Heritage preservation
Ambani highlights importance of preserving India's spiritual traditions
Speaking during his visit, Ambani stressed the importance of preserving India's spiritual traditions. He said these are not just places of worship but living institutions that promote faith, community, compassion and connection with nature. The initiatives are aimed at improving the experience for devotees while ensuring proper care and dignity for animals linked to temple traditions.