Haridwar, July 11: The decision to halt VIP darshan at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple during the month of Sawan has been welcomed by the saint community. Mahant Ravindra Puri, president of the Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad, stated that all devotees are equal in the eyes of God. There should be no discrimination against any worshipper. The temple’s visiting arrangements should ensure equal opportunities for all devotees.
In a conversation, Mahant Ravindra Puri expressed that the entire saint community supports this decision. He emphasized that there should be uniform arrangements in God’s house for everyone. However, he acknowledged that in unavoidable circumstances, such as for elderly women, senior citizens, or individuals with special needs, the temple management may create alternative arrangements. Still, he asserted that charging fees for such arrangements is inappropriate.
He pointed out that several temples in South India already have ticket-based darshan systems in place, and similar arrangements are now being observed in some prominent temples in North India, like the Ram Temple and Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Notably, major temples in Haridwar do not have any ticketing system. Devotees contribute donations voluntarily based on their faith, without any imposed charges.
Regarding the implementation of equal darshan arrangements in other temples, Mahant Ravindra Puri stated that if the government wishes, it can issue a uniform notification for all temples. Many large temples in the country are managed by the government, while temples operated by saints or religious organizations typically do not charge any fees for darshan. He mentioned that each temple management makes necessary arrangements based on local conditions and the number of devotees. Particularly during the month of Sawan and the Kanwar Yatra, facilities such as refreshments, medical assistance, and smooth darshan arrangements are provided to ensure devotees face no inconvenience.
Mahant Ravindra Puri remarked that blocking the path of general devotees for VIP darshan or closing temple doors is inappropriate. If there is a need for special individuals to have darshan, the temple management should ensure that the worship and darshan of ordinary devotees are not affected. Similar arrangements are made at various locations, including the Daksh Temple in Haridwar, where both general devotees and special guests are allowed to have darshan without discrimination.
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P.S.K.
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