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The Hindu
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Bill to form trust for Mathura's Banke Bihari temple introduced in Uttar Pradesh Assembly
Three bills, including the Shri Banke Bihari Temple Trust Bill, 2025, were introduced in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly on the third day of the monsoon session on Wednesday (August 13, 2025). The Shri Banke Bihari Temple Trust Bill provides for the formation of a board of government-appointed trustees, including 11 nominated and seven ex-officio members. The nominated members will include three eminent persons related to Vaishnav traditions, sects or peeths, three eminent persons related to other traditions, sects and peeths of Sanatan Dharma, which may include seers, gurus, scholars, mahants, acharyas etc. Besides, three persons belonging to any branch or sect of Sanatan Dharma, who could be from any field, such as educationists, scholars, entrepreneurs, social workers etc. Two members will be nominated from the Sevayat Goswami tradition in the temple, who are descendants of Swami Shri Haridas Ji. There is a provision in the bill for ex-officio members, including the Mathura district magistrate and senior superintendent of police, the city commissioner, the chief executive officer of the Uttar Pradesh Braj Tirtha Vikas Parishad, an officer from the charitable department of the state government, the chief executive officer of the Shri Banke Bihari Ji Temple Trust and any other member appointed by the government. Highlighting the objectives and reasons of the proposed bill on behalf of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna said the Banke Bihari temple in Vrindavan town of Mathura district is an ancient and world-famous shrine. Every year, a large number of devotees and tourists visit the temple, which is spread over around 870 square metres, including a scenic courtyard that covers about 365 square metres. The House was informed that devotees and visitors face great inconvenience due to the very narrow path leading up to the temple. On August 20, 2022, two devotees died due to an excessive crowd in the temple, and there is an urgent need for efficient crowd management, the Assembly was told. Thus, it has been decided that a trust called 'Shri Banke Bihari Ji Mandir Nyas' will be constituted for the all-round development of the temple and to oversee pilgrimage, religious, cultural, spiritual, and establishment-related aspects. It was clarified that since the state legislature was not in session and immediate legislative action was required for this work, the Uttar Pradesh Shri Banke Bihari Ji Mandir Nyas, 2025 (U.P. Ordinance No. 3, 2025) was issued by the governor on May 26. This bill has been introduced to replace the ordinance. Apart from this, the Uttar Pradesh Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (Amendment) Bill, 2025 and Uttar Pradesh State Public Service Commission (Regulation of Procedure) (Amendment) Bill, 2025 were also introduced in the House.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Bill to form trust for Mathura's Banke Bihari temple introduced in UP Assembly
Lucknow, Three bills, including the Shri Banke Bihari Temple Trust Bill, 2025, were introduced in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly on the third day of the monsoon session on Wednesday. Bill to form trust for Mathura's Banke Bihari temple introduced in UP Assembly The Shri Banke Bihari Temple Trust Bill provides for the formation of a board of government-appointed trustees, including 11 nominated and seven ex-officio members. The nominated members will include three eminent persons related to Vaishnav traditions, sects or peeths, three eminent persons related to other traditions, sects and peeths of Sanatan Dharma, which may include seers, gurus, scholars, mahants, acharyas etc. Besides, three persons belonging to any branch or sect of Sanatan Dharma, who could be from any field, such as educationists, scholars, entrepreneurs, social workers etc. Two members will be nominated from the Sevayat Goswami tradition in the temple, who are descendants of Swami Shri Haridas Ji. There is a provision in the bill for ex-officio members, including the Mathura district magistrate and senior superintendent of police, the city commissioner, the chief executive officer of the Uttar Pradesh Braj Tirtha Vikas Parishad, an officer from the charitable department of the state government, the chief executive officer of the Shri Banke Bihari Ji Temple Trust and any other member appointed by the government. Highlighting the objectives and reasons of the proposed bill on behalf of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna said the Banke Bihari temple in Vrindavan town of Mathura district is an ancient and world-famous shrine. Every year, a large number of devotees and tourists visit the temple that is spread over around 870 square metres, including a scenic courtyard that covers about 365 square metres. The House was informed that devotees and visitors face great inconvenience due to the very narrow path leading up to the temple. On August 20, 2022, two devotees died due to an excessive crowd in the temple and there is an urgent need for efficient crowd management, the Assembly was told. Thus, it has been decided that a trust called "Shri Banke Bihari Ji Mandir Nyas" will be constituted for the all-round development of the temple and to look after pilgrimage, religious, cultural, spiritual and establishment-related aspects. It was clarified that since the state legislature was not in session and immediate legislative action was required for this work, the Uttar Pradesh Shri Banke Bihari Ji Mandir Nyas, 2025 was issued by the governor on May 26. This bill has been introduced to replace the ordinance. Apart from this, the Uttar Pradesh Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Bill, 2025 and Uttar Pradesh State Public Service Commission Bill, 2025 were also introduced in the House. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
India Today
5 days ago
- General
- India Today
Chaos to corridor: UP's plan for safer Banke Bihari darshan, the debate around it
Vrindavan's Banke Bihari Mandir sees huge crowds on any given day, but in the weeks of Janmashtami or Holi, the scenario changes completely. The lanes choke with thousands of devotees trying to push forward for darshan. In the narrow stretch outside, shopkeepers keep shouting to be heard, vendors try to make space with trays of prasad balanced in their hands. A couple of cows wander in too. The result is a mess that most people agree doesn't feel here still talk about Janmashtami 2022 when, amid heavy rush, two lives were lost and several devotees were hurt in a stampede accident. Many say the memories of that unfortunate day haven't faded. They rekindle every time the crowd swells. There were too many inside and outside the gates, too few exits, no proper queue, and no quick way to get help that day, they that context, the proposed Banke Bihari Corridor is the government's answer to strike a balance between reverence and reality. Government officials believe it will widen access roads, bring order to the darshan process and add basic facilities like toilets, drinking water and medical posts. But the plan has run into resistance from those who worry about the cost to OF FACILITIES, SWELLING CROWD Locals and regular visitors know the situation well. Toilets? Maybe a few and often in poor condition. Clean water? Mostly from small stalls. First aid? Nowhere close enough to matter in an emergency. On busy days, the narrow approach lanes become a crush, with no formal crowd corridor blueprint talks about wider entry and exit points, separate lanes for darshan, rest areas for elderly pilgrims and medical stations. For a temple that attracts lakhs each year, the argument is simple. These are basics that should have been there years OF LOSING CONTROL LOOMS LARGEThe pushback is led by the Sevayat Goswami community, hereditary priests who have served here for generations. Their main fear is not about amenities but about losing control over the temple's daily rituals and traditions. They also worry that the unique atmosphere, shaped over centuries, might be altered officials have promised that the seva-puja system will remain as it is, that sevayats will keep their roles and that anyone displaced (shopkeepers, residents) will be compensated and relocated fairly. The Supreme Court too, it seems, finds some merit in the argument presented by the state. But it doesn't seem enough to convince KASHI MODELadvertisementThe Kashi Vishwanath Corridor in Varanasi started with the same worries. In Varanasi, when the corridor plan was first made public, local groups and heritage voices worried about buildings being pulled down, the old identity being lost and the area turning too commercial. But as the work went on, older structures were repaired, some open space was created for rituals and access got easier. Now, even people who were against it at the start admit it has helped without taking away the temple's BETWEEN FAITH AND PRACTICALITYAs per the plan, the state government is set to acquire five acres of land around the iconic temple. But this area currently houses around 300 temples and residential buildings where people have lived for hundreds of years that will now have to be government has contended that the corridor will help in the movement of devotees. There is also hope that proper development of the area will bring in more tourists and will always draw crowds to Vrindavan. But the lanes outside the temple are not equipped for those numbers. And when something goes wrong, it is the devotees who pay the backing the idea say the corridor is the only way to avoid a repeat of 2022. Those against it argue that development should not come at the cost of heritage. Somewhere between the two is the middle ground: Safer, cleaner access without touching the rituals that define Banke Bihari.- EndsMust Watch
