Mathura, December 28 – Mathura Vrindavan is getting ready to welcome a sea of devotees for the new year season.
Elaborate arrangements are made for lakhs of devotees expected to visit temples during the new year. Entry of Heavy vehicles will be restricted, and E-Rikshaw will be allowed to run only on their approved routes, SSP Shlok Kumar said. Maximum crowd is expected on New Year’s Eve and the weekend following it, therefore, only a limited number of small vehicles will be allowed then, he added.
Sri Bankey Bihari, the temple will be decorated with balloons and colourful cloths. Thakur ji is worshipped in his childhood stage at the temple; hence, special care is taken in temple rituals to ensure that “Lala” is not troubled. Khichadi Prashad will be offered to Thakur Ji, Gyanendra Kishore Goswami, Sewayat Sri Bankey Bihari temple said.
Echoing his concern, Dinesh Chandra Goswami, Sewayat Sri Radha Raman Temple Vrindavan, also feels that the crowd unfortunately consist of a large number of influencers who visits only to make reels for social media. “The temple will be decorated for the New Year and will offer Khichadi Prasad to the deity”, he added.
Pawan Kaushik Sewayat Danghati temple Goverdhan expects even more number of devotees than previous years, to perform Parikrama (circumambulation) of thakur ji Maharaj during New Years time and to perform Panchamrit Abhishek in the morning. He is worried about the fact that many devotees are now performing parikrama with shoes on and playing loud music on speakers.
Dr Rakesh Gautam Sewayat Ancient Sri Garun Govind temple Vrindavan, believe that the New Year will be even more auspicious as it falls on Thursday, which is the day of deity. “Khichadi Prashad will be distributed to devotees, he added.
Sri Kishna Janamsthan Mathura is also preparing to welcome a large number of devotees this year. Khichadi, Gajak and rewadi are distributed to devotees as Prashad, Kapil Sharma, Secretary, Sri Krishna Janamsthan Seva Sansthan said.
The ancient Kali temple Mathura is holding a Sehstrachandi Panchkundatmak yagna to bring peace and prosperity to everyone in the coming year, Raman Tandon, Media In-charge of Sri Kali ji temple, said.
Businessman Pawan Chaturvedi points out that the existing infrastructure of the city is not fit for the huge rush the city is witnessing. The government is pushing for a corridor, but will it solve the problems of the city, who is stopping them from upgrading the infrastructure of the city? He feels the Government Hindutva agenda, which is promoted by many Katha orators, is one of the major reasons behind so many tourists coming to this religious city, “but most of them are coming just to mark their presence on social media and are not actual devotees,” he added.
CA Kuldeep Arora, sharing his daily troubles while commuting, stressed on building wide roads and better parking facilities. He said, unfortunately, the city is not ready for all kinds of travellers. Strongly supporting his view, Supreme Court Lawyer Narendra Kishore Goswami finds the arrangement made by the administration to be insufficient. He warns devotees to get ready to walk a lot due to movement restriction in Vrindavan for the New Year. He also feels that genuine devotees suffer due to the large number of influencers visiting temples.
Congress Party District President Mukesh Dhangar points out that the locals have a tough time following their routine, as it is difficult for them to get out of their houses. The government is to blame as they haven’t upgraded the infrastructure, which is reeling under immense pressure.
Local Businessman Satyam Agrawal, who also runs Hotels, is happy with the fact that most of the hotels are full of tourists and his properties were full many days in advance. “Kachori or Bedhai (a sort of puri) and Jalebi are the favourite breakfast of tourists and locals. Many devotees also prefer taking Bal Bhog offered to deity in temples in the morning.
