Vrindavan Abuzz with Akshaya Tritiya Activity

With Akshaya Tritiya just around the corner, devotees in Vrindavan are gearing up for Thakurji’s special summer service on Akshaya Teej. The temples are abuzz with activity as the servants and priests are busy grinding sandalwood on stone slabs to create huge amounts of sandalwood paste. This paste will be used to cover Thakurji’s entire body from head to toe on the morning of Akshaya Tritiya, as part of the Lord’s special summer service.

But that’s not all. The devotees of Thakur Banke Bihari will also get the rare opportunity to partake in Charan Darshan – the annual event where they can see the lotus feet of their beloved deity. This year, Charan Darshan will be performed on April 23, along with Sarvang Darshan in the evening. Thakurji will be adorned with gold and silver anklets and smeared with sandalwood paste, as devotees throng to catch a glimpse of his lotus hands and feet.To combat the scorching heat, special Thandai bhog (cooling drink) and sattu laddoos will be offered to provide some relief to Thakurji.

Mayank Goswami Bantu Maharaj, the sevayat of the temple, explains that the Charan Darshan is a rare opportunity for those who are unable to visit the Char Dhams, as the reward of doing Char Dham yatra can be attained by just having darshan of the lotus feet of Banke Bihari on this day.