Why Was the 10-kg Silver Threshold Not Worshipped at Banke Bihari Temple? Legal Notice and Traditions Trigger Controversy

Mathura, January 24
A controversy has erupted at the world-famous Thakur Shri Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan over the installation of a new silver threshold (chaukhat/dehri) at the sanctum entrance. Despite the donation of over 10 kilograms of silver, the ceremonial worship of the new threshold did not take place as scheduled, sparking intense debate among devotees, temple authorities, and religious scholars.

The issue revolves around a newly installed silver threshold weighing approximately 10.5 kg, donated by a devotee for the main entrance of the temple’s sanctum sanctorum. During its 10th meeting held on January 19, the High-Powered Committee managing the temple, chaired by Ashok Kumar, had publicly announced that a formal “Dehri Pujan” would be conducted on the auspicious occasion of Vasant Panchami at 8:30 am.

However, no official worship ceremony was held on Friday morning, leading to speculation and unrest within the temple premises.

Legal Notice Halts Proposed Ritual

Soon after the committee’s announcement, Advocate Sankalp Goswami, representing former temple chairman Gaurav Goswami, issued a legal notice to the committee chairman and the secretary (the District Magistrate of Mathura). The notice asserted that “Dehri Pujan” is a deeply sacred and traditional ritual strictly associated with the Haridasi sect.

According to the notice, only initiated devotees or members of the Haridasi tradition are authorized to perform this ritual. Allowing non-sect members to conduct the worship would, it argued, violate centuries-old temple traditions. The notice further questioned how committee members could claim this privilege when ordinary devotees are prohibited from performing similar rituals.

Committee’s Clarification and Changed Stand

The impact of the legal notice became evident on the scheduled day of the ceremony. No worship was conducted at the appointed time. Amid growing controversy, committee members and temple servitor Dinesh Goswami stated that no official worship programme had been finalized by the committee.

Sources, however, suggest that concerns over legal complications and opposition from traditional servitors compelled the committee to withdraw from the proposed ceremony at the last moment.

Five Ancient Thresholds Discovered

During the replacement of the old threshold, an unexpected historical discovery was made. Excavation revealed five old thresholds buried one above another beneath the sanctum entrance—four made of silver and one of alloy (gillat). Recognizing their historical and religious significance, the temple administration has initiated the process of securing these ancient thresholds in a bank locker.

While the newly installed silver threshold now adorns the temple entrance, the dispute surrounding its ceremonial worship remains unresolved, reflecting the complex intersection of law, tradition, and faith at one of Hinduism’s most revered shrines.