Identification of Tour Operators Before Action at Banke Bihari Temple; Regular Prasad Quality Checks Agreed

Vrindavan: Devotee facilities, the quality of prasad and the activities of tours operating around the Thakur Shri Banke Bihari Temple were among the key issues discussed at a meeting of the High-Powered Management Committee constituted to improve temple arrangements.

Several proposals were discussed during the committee’s 20th meeting, held at Shaheed Laxman Auditorium on Wednesday. However, Goswami members raised questions over certain agenda items and stressed the need for further consideration.

Regular Testing of Prasad Quality Proposed

The meeting, chaired by committee chairman Ashok Kumar, reached an agreement on ensuring the purity of prasad distributed at the temple and food items sold as prasad in the surrounding areas. The committee emphasised the need to collect food samples regularly and have them tested to maintain quality and safety standards.

The proposal to install a central air-conditioning system throughout the temple premises to provide relief to devotees from heat and overcrowding was also discussed.

Rajbhog sevayat Rajat Goswami said the proposal had been discussed in previous meetings as well, but the expected progress had not yet been achieved. He stressed the need to expedite the process.

Questions Raised Over Inspection of Silver Throne and Chariot

The meeting also discussed matters related to the silver throne, chariot and Sheshnag. Committee members Himanshu Goswami and Rajat Goswami raised questions about the functioning of the committee constituted to inspect these items.

They said the inspection committee had not provided satisfactory answers so far. They also maintained that the silver items in question were not part of the temple’s traditional management system but had historically been used by the Goswami community during Phool Bangla tableaux.

The members further pointed out that the party that lodged the complaint had not yet appeared before the committee to present its position.

Identification of Tours Before Taking Action

The proposal to curb the activities of tours operating around the temple and attempting to take devotees along with them was also discussed.

Rajat Goswami said action against such individuals was necessary, but their identities should first be verified. He explained that pilgrimage priests had traditionally been guiding their yajmans (devotees and families associated with them) through darshan and religious rituals in Vrindavan and other pilgrimage destinations for generations.

He added that employees working for Goswamis also sometimes accompany devotees for darshan in their employers’ absence.

Therefore, he stressed that a clear distinction must be made between those performing these traditional religious services and unauthorised touts before any action is taken. The committee chairman assured members that the matter would be considered.

Committee Reviews Measures to Improve Devotee Facilities

After the meeting, committee secretary and District Magistrate Chandra Prakash Singh said various issues had been discussed by mutual agreement during the 20th meeting.

He added that particular attention had been given to improving facilities for devotees and strengthening arrangements at the temple.