Phool Bangla Utsav begins at Shri Bankey Bihari temple Vrindavan

Mathura, March 29 – The temple town is gearing up to help its beloved Krishna escape the scorching heat of the coming summer season. Starting from Kamda Ekadashi on March 29 (the eleventh day of the Chaitra Month), the 134-day-long Phool Bangla Utsav will begin at the Shri Bankey Bihari temple in Vrindavan.
Red stone structure and use of earthen lamps to light up the temple make the temple super-hot and unbearable in summers. “The flower decoration was initiated as a measure to make things better,” Gyanendra Kishore Goswami Sewayat Shri Bankey Bihari temple said.

Thousands of decorative and fragrant flowers like Bela, Mogra, Rose, Chameli, carnation, marigold, lily, lotus, and orchids are sourced locally as well from Kanpur, Kannauj, and Ajmer. “Rose and Mogra are Thakur Bankey Bihari’s favourites,” he added.
Fortunately, the devotees will have Phool Bungla darshans for one more month, this year, due to the falling of a Hindu calendar Add-on-month Adhik Mass. “Darshans of Thakur ji will be available from temple Jagmohan during the festival,” Shashank Goswami Sewayat Shri Bankey Bihari temple said.
Before 2016, Phool Bungla darshans were available once in the evening only at Shri Bankey Bihari temple, Vrindavan, but after an Apex court order in July 2016, Phool Bungla darshans are now available in the morning as well, Shashank Goswami Sewayat Shri Bankey Bihari temple said.
Flowers from floral decoration are then sent to Ashray Sadan, a home for the widows. They are processed to make incense sticks there, He added.
Madhurya Bhav (Sweet Mood) takes centre stage in Bhakti in Brij Bhumi. We take care of Lord Krishna as Lala (our child). “Bhakti is Contemplation of the happiness of Thakur Ji,“ Dinesh Chandra Goswami , Sewayat Sri Radha Raman temple said. A tutai (clay pot) is used for an entire month to offer water , seasonal fruits and Sharbat to Radha Raman ji. This keeps Prashad cool. The new pot is used every day in order to maintain the temperature. The same is distributed to temple Sewayat’s as Prashad.
Mango, banana, Litchi thandai, Lassi, and Chach are offered as Prashad to Thakur Ji. The use of saffron and dry fruits is now withdrawn from the Bhog Prashad, he added.
However, Vrindavan’s Radha Ballabh temple will observe Gulab Dhol on Kamda Ekadashi today. The deity will offer darshan in a special swing made up of roses. The temple will be decked up in pink, and even Radha Ballabh Lal will adorn a pink attire, Sukrati Goswami Sewayat Radha Ballabh temple said.
Shri Bankey Bihari temple, Vrindavan, will have Phool Bangla Utsav from March 29, and till 12 August, while at Radha Raman temple and Radha Ballabh temple, Phool Bungla Utsav will begin from Akshay Teej (20 April), he said.
The Bankey Bihari temple High powered committee has asked all Sewayat’s to deposit one lakh fifty-one thousand for each Phool Bangla three days in advance in the temple office, according to the temple release.
We are expecting a large number of devotees to visit temples during the festival. Proper security and safety arrangements for devotees are in place during the Utsav period. We are also ensuring round the clock availability of emergency and general services, SSP Mathura Shlok Kumar said.