On VIP darshan-puja in Shri Banke Bihari Temple of Vrindavan, the Supreme Court said that the deity is not being allowed to rest. When common devotees cannot visit, special pujas are organized for those who pay huge fees.

The bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipul Panchauli was hearing the petition of the temple servants, who have opposed the instructions of the committee appointed by the court. The committee has asked to extend the darshan time for common devotees. However, at the end of the hearing the court issued a notice to the High Powered Committee. The case will be heard in January.

In the petition, Shri Banke Bihari Ji Mandir Trust Ordinance, 2025 has been challenged. The temple’s service officer says that the management of the temple has been done under a special plan made in the year 1939 and the government has no authority over it.

According to the report of Live Law, senior advocate Shyam Diwan, counsel for the petitioner, said that there has been a change in the timing of darshan, which is an integral part of the rituals of the temple. On this, CJI Surya Kant asked that if the timing of darshan was increased then what was the problem in it. The petitioner says that if there is a change in the timing of darshan, it would also mean a change in the rituals inside the temple, including the resting of the deities.

CJI Surya Kant said, ‘After the temple closes at 12 noon, they do not allow the deity to rest even for a minute. At that time, they are harassed the most and special pujas are conducted for rich people by charging huge fees. During this time, those people who can pay a huge amount are invited and a special puja is organized for them.

Advocate Shyam Diwan told the CJI that your apprehensions are correct, but that is a different issue. CJI said, ‘The second thing is to end the practice of daily puja… Suppose there is a reduction of 10-15 thousand devotees in the original timing, but what difference will it make?’ Advocate Shyam Diwan said that we do not want a stampede-like situation. There is a need to control the number of devotees. Well that is a different issue.

He raised another issue and said that Dehri Puja is done at a special place at the feet of the Lord, but now it has been stopped. He suggested that the Dehri Puja between Guru and disciple should not be stopped. The court said that we make the temple management a party. Notice should be sent to the High Powered Committee and Uttar Pradesh Government through the District Magistrate of Mathura.

(With inputs from Nipun Sehgal)

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The long discussion about the time of visiting the world famous Thakur Banke Bihari temple in Vrindavan in Mathura finally ended with consent. Today, the final decision has been taken in the fifth meeting of the High Level Management Committee. Tomorrow i.e. from 30 September 2025, a big change will be applicable in the visit time of the temple. Thakur Banke Bihari Maharaj will now give his divine darshan to the devotees for about 2 hours 45 minutes longer than his old times.

The chairman of the High Power Committee and the four members of Goswami Samaj, who are in the committee, have given their consent in writing. The committee has instructed the temple management to strictly follow the orders, so that the devotees can get an opportunity for smooth and safe darshan. This decision has come just before the Navami of Navratri, when lakhs of devotees in Vrindavan will flock to the Navratri worship of Maa Durga and the darshan of Thakur ji. Earlier, devotees had to face long queues due to limited darshan time, but now this change has been made keeping in mind the convenience of devotees.
Service in the morning

Sevayat enters the private temple- 06.00 AM
Darshan opening time- 07-00 AM
Shringar Aarti- 07-10 am
Curtain closed by splashing- 07-15 am
Rajbhog service starts- 07-15 am
Time to begin Rajbhog Aarti- 12-25 PM
Time to close the curtain by splashing- 12-30 PM
Service out of the private temple- 01-30 PM

Service in the evening

Savayat enters the private temple- 03-15 PM
Darshan opening time- 04-15 PM
Sleeping Aarti Time to Start- 09-25 PM
Time to close the curtain by splashing- 09-30 PM
Service out of the private temple- 10-30 PM
Now by changing the time of the temple, devotees will get extra time for darshan, especially when the crowd is at its peak in the evening hours. Thakur Banke Bihari Temple is the spiritual heritage of Vrindavan, where Kanha ji of the child form appeared with devotion to Swami Haridas ji is seated. According to the unique tradition of the temple, there is a tableau darshan, in which the curtain opens every 10-15 minutes.