Online Registration for Banke Bihari Darshan

Finally, the Goswamis have agreed for online registration for Banke Bihari darshan.  A meeting was held at the Tourist Facilitation Centre between the District Administration of Mathura and Goswamis at the temple priests of Banke Bihari Temple. Both the parties have reached to an agreement to facilitate easy darshan for devotees through online registration.

During the meeting with District Magistrate Shailendra Kumar Singh and Senior Superintendent of Police Shri Shailesh Kumar Pandey outlined the upcoming online registration system. The Goswamis expressed their unanimous agreement on the proposed system.

It was also apprised that the preparation for managing the influx of devotees during upcoming events is underway, emphasizing the importance of online registration for a seamless darshan experience. It was also decided to seek permissions from either the Magistrate Court or High Court to implement arrangements within the temple premises.

Following the unfortunate incident during the Shri Krishna Janmashtami celebration in 2022, the temple’s security measures have been a subject of prolonged debate, with a hearing on a Public Interest Litigation scheduled for January 31^st at the Allahabad High Court.

Information was shared about the increased parking facilities along the three routes leading from Mathura, Chhataikara, and Yamuna Expressway to Vrindavan. The discussion also covered the coordination of traffic management and the provision of convenient transportation for devotees from parking lots to the temple and back, taking into account routes and potential obstacles.

Presentations were made during the meeting, addressing the challenges in traffic and crowd control, utilizing visuals to highlight potential issues. The report presented detailed the average daily footfall of 20,000 to 25,000 devotees using private vehicles, 10,000 to 20,000 utilizing public transportation on regular days, and a surge to 50,000 to 100,000 during weekends and special festivals. Notable occasions like New Year, Rangbharni Ekadashi, Akshaya Tritiya, Guru Purnima, Hariyali Teej, Janmashtami, Radhashtami, Sharad Purnima, and Bihar Panchami witness a substantial increase with devotees numbering between 150,000 and 250,000.

While the immediate implementation of internal arrangements within the temple is feasible, delays are anticipated due to the pending legal matters. The administration will present its case in court to finalize the arrangements, and during the meeting, key stakeholders, including Rajesh Kumar, Secretary of the MVDA, and prominent Goswamis of Banke Bihari Temple were present.