Actor Akshay Kumar has launched a project to feed more than 1200 monkeys every day at secure locations on the fringes of the holy town of Ayodhya as a special Diwali gift to the flourishing monkey population surrounding the Ram Temple.

Every day since the Ram Temple opened in January of this year, thousands of pilgrims travel to Ayodhya, bringing hundreds of monkeys with them who are hungry.

This initiative, which was funded by the Bollywood star, involves feeding monkeys hygienic and nutritious food in several predesignated areas away from the crowded parts of the town. The goal is to ensure that the animals are fed properly without causing any inconvenience to the pilgrims and to keep the city clean.

Kumar has previously stepped up to support society. He had donated ₹1.21 crore to the refurbishment of the Haji Ali Dargah in Mumbai earlier this year. He had promised to donate ₹25 crores to the PM CARES fund during the height of the COVID-19 outbreak.