Banke Bihari Appears as Murli Dhar on Sharad Purnima, Draws Thousands of Devotees in Vrindavan

Vrindavan: Devotion and spiritual fervour marked Sharad Purnima at the Shri Banke Bihari Temple, where Lord Banke Bihari appeared in his enchanting Murli Dhar form, dressed in white and depicted in the posture associated with the divine Raas Leela. The rare darshan, available only once a year, attracted a large number of devotees from Vrindavan and various parts of the country.

Rare Darshan Draws Huge Crowds

As the temple doors opened at 7:45 am on Sunday, devotees gathered in large numbers for a glimpse of the deity playing the flute. The sight prompted chants of praise throughout the temple premises, while worshippers stood captivated by the Lord’s appearance on an ornate, precious throne.

Long queues formed outside the temple from the early morning hours. The flow of devotees continued throughout the surrounding streets as visitors eagerly awaited their turn to witness the special Sharad Purnima darshan.

Special Arrangements to Manage the Rush

Considering the expected turnout, additional arrangements were made to manage the crowds and maintain security within the temple complex. Security personnel continuously guided devotees standing along the railings forward, helping ensure that those waiting behind also had an opportunity to catch a glimpse of the deity.

The annual appearance of Banke Bihari in the Murli Dhar form holds special religious significance for devotees, prompting pilgrims from different regions to visit Vrindavan for the occasion.

Extended Darshan Timings for Devotees

Himanshu Goswami, a sewayat member of the temple’s empowered management committee, said the darshan schedule had been extended in view of the anticipated crowd.

On Sunday, the temple opened at 7:45 am, with morning darshan scheduled to continue until 1 pm instead of the usual noon closing time. In the evening, the doors were scheduled to open at 5:30 pm and remain open until 10:30 pm, an extension of one hour beyond the regular 9:30 pm closing time.

The extended schedule was intended to accommodate more devotees and provide them with an opportunity to seek blessings during the auspicious festival.