Supreme Court Slams 'Special Pujas' for Affluent in Vrindavan Temple

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The Supreme Court has expressed concern over the practice of allowing wealthy individuals to perform special pujas in the Bankey Bihari Ji Temple at Vrindavan, disrupting the deity's resting time. The court has issued a notice to the temple management committee and the Uttar Pradesh government, seeking a response to a petition challenging changes in 'darshan' timings and temple practices. According to the petitioners, the temple's traditional timings have been disrupted, and essential religious practices, including the 'Dehri Pooja', have been stopped. The petitioners argue that the changes have led to the exploitation of the deity for financial gain, with affluent individuals paying for special pujas. The court has taken note of the submissions of senior advocate Shyam Divan and lawyer Tanvi Dubey, who represent the temple sevayats. They argued that the puja timings are sacrosanct and should be strictly adhered to, as they are closely intertwined with internal rituals, including the waking and resting of the deity. The dispute has arisen against the backdrop of significant changes in the temple's governance framework, with the Uttar Pradesh Shri Bankey Bihari Ji Temple Trust Ordinance, 2025, seeking to replace the 1939 Scheme of Management with a state-controlled trust. The court had earlier stayed the operation of the ordinance, but constituted a high-powered committee to manage the temple's day-to-day affairs. The Supreme Court's intervention has raised important questions about the balance between tradition and modernization in religious institutions, and the impact of government involvement on established practices.