An inspiring act of honesty at the revered Churdhar shrine in Himachal Pradesh has won widespread appreciation and reinforced faith in human values. Pandit Deep Ram Sharma, a priest and sevadar at the Churdhar temple dedicated to Lord Shirgul Maharaj, returned a purse containing gold jewellery worth nearly Rs 5 lakh and Rs 7,910 in cash to the rightful owner after a three-day search.The purse was found near the summit of Churdhar, one of the most prominent pilgrimage destinations in the outer Himalayas, located at an altitude of 11,965 ft. It contained gold rings, a mangalsutra, pendants, and other ornaments, but no identity card or document to help trace the owner.As news of the recovered purse spread, several people reportedly claimed ownership. However, Deep Ram Sharma refused to hand it over unless the claimant could accurately describe all the contents and the exact cash amount. His insistence ensured that the valuables remained safe and were returned only to the rightful owner.To help locate the owner, Shyam Lal Sharma, an employee of Churdhar Temple Committee, shared a video on Facebook informing the public about the lost purse and appealing for information. The social media outreach proved crucial in tracing the owner.After verification on Monday, the purse was identified as belonging to Reena Sharma, a resident of Vikasnagar in Uttarakhand. After returning home from her pilgrimage, she had resigned herself to the loss of the purse and the valuables it contained.According to those involved, Reena Sharma became emotional when informed over the phone that her purse and all its contents were safe. She later sent her relative, Ritik Sharma, a resident of Dashau village in Uttarakhand, to collect it on her behalf.On Tuesday, the purse and all its contents were formally handed over to Ritik Sharma in the presence of Chureshwar Seva Samiti members Sohan Thakur, Jiya Lal, Roshan Sharma, Pradeep, and other volunteers. Ritik Sharma thanked the temple management committee and especially Pandit Deep Ram Sharma for their honesty and dedication.Deep Ram Sharma, popularly known among devotees as “Sirmauri Pujari Ji”, hails from Naya village in the Shillai subdivision of Sirmaur district and currently resides at Ronhat. He has been serving at the Churdhar temple for nearly 25 years.The incident has been widely praised by devotees, who described it as a shining example of honesty, integrity, and selfless service, further enhancing the sanctity and reputation of the shrine.