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Vrindavan: On Monday, the situation became unusual regarding the offering and resting time of the Lord in the famous Shri Banke Bihari Temple of Vrindavan. This matter came into discussion after the delay in offering Balbhog in the temple. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has expressed strong displeasure over the tradition of paid “special puja” in the temple and termed it as a reason for disruption in the resting time of Lord Banke Bihari.

The matter gained momentum when some reports claimed that no offerings were made to the deity on Monday. However, the temple services and management committee rejected these claims and clarified that the bhog was offered, but there was a delay of about one and a half hour.

What was the reason for the delay in offering?

According to reports, a Mahant associated with the temple said that the delay was due to the absence of the confectioner appointed to prepare the bhog. He claimed that the confectioner had not received his salary for some time. At the same time, another Mahant said that the delay was due to some personal and urgent reason, which had nothing to do with the payment.

Temple Management Committee member Dinesh Goswami clearly said,
“It is not at all possible that we do not offer food to Banke Bihari ji.”

The management committee denied

The high level management committee of Banke Bihari Temple appointed by the Supreme Court has rejected the news to non-payment outright. The committee said in its statement that there was only a “minor delay” in the bhog and the reason was that the wife of the chief artisan preparing the bhog had suddenly fallen ill.

The committee also clarified that the reports of “non-payment” or “refusal by the confectioner to make bhog” are completely baseless.

Why did the Supreme Court express its displeasure?

On the same day, a petition to Banke Bihari Temple was being heard in the Supreme Court in New Delhi. During the hearing, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant made strong remarks on the practice of paid “special puja” in the temple. He said that after the temple closes in the afternoon, the deity is not given time to rest and special pujas are conducted for those who can pay.

“They do not allow the deity to rest even for a moment and so-called rich people are allowed special puja,” the Chief Justice said in his oral remarks.

Time change and legal disputes

This controversy is also to the changes made in the timings of temple darshan and rituals. The petitioners say that the timing and rituals of darshan are part of an age-old tradition. Due to change in time, the deity’s time of waking up in the morning and sleeping at night has also been affected.

Controversy increased due to ordinance

The controversy over timing has been further fueled by the Uttar Pradesh Shri Banke Bihari Ji Mandir Trust Ordinance, 2025. Through this ordinance, the old management plan of 1939 was changed and a state-controlled trust was created. However, the Supreme Court has currently put a stay on this ordinance and the hearing of the case is pending in Allahabad High Court.

At present, different claims are coming out regarding the exact reason for the delay in offering, but the temple administration says that there has been no compromise with the service and traditions of Lord Banke Bihari.