Banke Bihari temple halts daily bhogs amid unpaid wages

The iconic Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan faced an unusual disruption when the halwai (cook) stopped preparing the four daily bhogs due to delayed payments. The halwai works under contractor Mayank Gupta, who receives ₹80,000 monthly for arranging the bhogs. The halt sparked concern among temple authorities and devotees, highlighting the delicate balance between preserving centuries-old rituals and managing a site that sees nearly five lakh visitors daily.

Temple priest Dinesh Goswami intervened, questioning Gupta and ordering immediate payment to avoid further disruptions. The incident comes under the oversight of a Supreme Court-appointed committee, chaired by retired Justice Ashok Kumar, which has managed the temple since August 2025 following management disputes. The panel’s mandate includes addressing overcrowding, improving darshan arrangements, and ensuring smooth operations at this 19th-century temple rooted in 16th-century traditions.

While the temple is under the court panel, there has been no direct involvement of the Uttar Pradesh Endowment Department in this wage or bhog issue, though the state government has proposed reforms to bring the temple under a statutory trust. If enacted, such a trust could involve government-nominated members and officials in the temple’s administration, potentially including departments like the endowment department.

The lapse underscores ongoing tensions between tradition and administration, showing how even operational delays, such as unpaid wages, can disrupt rituals at a major religious institution. The Supreme Court panel continues to supervise day-to-day operations, aiming to reconcile centuries-old practices with the demands of modern temple management.