VIP Darshan system at Banke Bihari Temple has been stopped. Now all devotees will have darshan equally. Live broadcast will commence. Security arrangements will be improved, a sealed chamber will be opened, and temple opening hours will be extended.
Vrindavan: Thousands of devotees visit the famous Shri Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan, Mathura district, daily for darshan and worship. Recently, the temple management committee has decided to make a significant change in the darshan system. The committee announced on Friday that the VIP darshan facility at the temple will be discontinued with immediate effect.
Following this decision, all devotees will now be able to have darshan equally by queuing up. The VIP enclosure has also been removed, which will prevent the temple administration from facing accusations of discrimination.
Live Broadcast and Security Improvements
A direct live broadcast of the darshan will now be initiated at the temple. The objective is to enable devotees from any part of the country to have darshan of Thakur Ji from the comfort of their homes.
Changes are also being made to the security arrangements. Responsibility for security at the temple will now be assigned to ex-servicemen and professional security agencies, rather than police or private guards. This will enhance the safety of devotees and help control crowding inside the temple.
The SSP will decide the entry and exit points from the temple within the next three days. Furthermore, the temple will now be open for three hours longer in summers and nearly three and three-quarter hours longer in winters, allowing devotees to have darshan at a relaxed pace.
Opening of a Long-Sealed Chamber and Audit
The temple management committee has also decided to open a chamber within the temple's sanctum sanctorum that has been sealed for years. Videography will be done to view and record its contents, ensuring a clear record of everything.
Additionally, a structural audit of the temple building will be conducted by IIT Roorkee to ascertain the condition of the temple's safety and structure. The committee will also determine the temple's total movable and immovable assets.
As part of a special audit, irregularities from the years 2013 to 2016 will be investigated, and a report will be submitted to the committee within 15 days.
Reason Behind Abolishing VIP Darshan
The temple administration states that the VIP darshan system often led to pushing, shoving, and disputes. Allegations of inequality among visitors have also been made on several occasions at different religious sites and events.
Now, all devotees will have darshan by standing in the same queue. This will not only increase the convenience for pilgrims but also bring transparency to the temple's administrative functioning.
Devotees Nationwide Connected Through Live Broadcast
The intention behind starting the live broadcast facility is also to allow devotees residing across the country and abroad to have temple darshan from home. This will reduce crowds at the temple, and the darshan experience will remain the same for everyone. The committee has clarified that all devotees visiting the temple will now be able to have darshan without any special privileges or facilities, thus maintaining administrative impartiality.
Improvement in Security Arrangements
The responsibility for the temple's security will now be entrusted to ex-servicemen and professional agencies. This will help prevent any untoward incidents at the temple. The SSP will soon decide on the entry and exit gates. Furthermore, security cameras and surveillance systems inside the temple will be expanded.
The temple administration states that all these changes have been made keeping in mind the convenience, security, and administrative transparency for the devotees. The chief official of the temple said that no one will be given special privileges or VIP facilities at the temple henceforth, and everyone will get an equal opportunity to have darshan.
