Mathura, October 18: The festival of Dhanteras is going to be a historic and special one for Mathura district. Here, the Toshakhana (treasury) of Thakur Shri Banke Bihari Ji Maharaj’s temple in Vrindavan, which had been closed for the last 54 years, is being opened on Saturday on the orders of the temple’s High Powered Temple Management Committee.
The team has entered the temple, while Goswamis are creating a ruckus. They demand that whatever is found in the treasury be broadcast live on a screen outside the temple. All eyes are focused on the Toshakhana. It is being said that this treasury may include gold and silver jewelry, precious items, ancient heritage, and religious gifts that have been locked for decades.
This entire process is being carried out under the instructions of the Supreme Court and under the supervision of the High Powered Management Committee. The committee decided on September 29 to open the temple’s “Toshakhana,” or treasury room. Preparations were in full swing since then, and the locks were finally opened after 3 p.m. on Saturday.
According to temple officials, the room where the treasure is kept is located adjacent to the temple’s sanctum sanctorum. This room has been closed for a long time, and only a select few priests and administrative officials were aware of it. Now, when it is opened, what will be found inside remains a mystery. Devotees are arriving in large numbers to witness this historic moment.
A new controversy also emerged at the Banke Bihari Temple late Friday evening. The orders of the high-powered Temple Management Committee regarding the lighting of lamps in the temple were ignored. The committee had directed that only seven lamps be lit in the semi-constructed hall outside the temple, with each lamp containing no more than 50 grams of oil. It was also decided that the Deepdan process would begin after sunset and conclude before Thakurji’s Aarti.
However, on Friday, ignoring the rules, more than two dozen lamps were lit in the Jagmohan area, directly in front of the temple’s sanctum sanctorum. A large crowd gathered there, and several priests participated in the lighting of the lamps.
The temple’s sevayat Goswamis expressed their displeasure, stating that they were not allowed to perform the Deepdan, even though the Deepdan ceremony is being held inside the temple.
Goswami Ashokji stated that the tradition of Deepdan in the Jagmohan is an old one, but the committee prohibited the lighting of the lamps inside the temple, allowing only seven lamps to be lit in the hall. Now, that very order is being violated inside the temple. The Goswamis also stated that they will write a letter to the committee complaining about this and demanding an investigation into the entire matter.
The news of the opening of the Banke Bihari Temple’s treasure trove has created an atmosphere of devotion and excitement throughout Mathura. Many devotees are considering it a religious and historic moment. Security has been tightened around the temple to prevent chaos among the crowd of devotees. Once this treasure is opened, many untold stories and secrets related to the temple’s history are expected to be revealed. Devotees believe that Thakurji’s treasure will reveal not only wealth but also a glimpse of faith and tradition.