The Supreme Court has sharply criticised the practice of conducting so called &ldquo;special pujas&rdquo; for wealthy devotees at Vrindavan&rsquo;s Banke Bihari temple, observing that such rituals amount to exploiting the deity and disrupting long held traditions.
The remarks came while the court was examining concerns over changes in darshan timings and ritual practices at the historic Krishna temple. The bench expressed unease over allegations that private pujas are being performed after regular temple hours for those willing to pay large sums, effectively extending worship beyond prescribed timings.
The judges pointed out that the temple follows a unique and deeply rooted tradition in which the deity is treated as a living child, with clearly defined times for waking, worship, rest and sleep. Allowing exclusive rituals late into the day, the court noted, violates these customs and deprives the deity of rest.
&ldquo;They exploit the deity like anything,&rdquo; the bench remarked, questioning how financial considerations were being allowed to override religious practices that have been followed for generations.
The issue was raised amid objections to recent changes in darshan schedules, which petitioners argue have altered the temple&rsquo;s daily rhythm and sidelined traditional rituals. It was contended that practices such as designated rest periods for the deity were being compromised to accommodate paying devotees.
The court also raised concerns about inequality in access to worship, noting that ordinary devotees often face long queues and limited darshan, while the affluent are allegedly granted private access through paid arrangements.
Seeking accountability, the Supreme Court asked the temple management and the Uttar Pradesh government to explain how such practices were permitted and whether they aligned with the temple&rsquo;s customs. The judges indicated that religious traditions cannot be selectively altered for monetary gain.
The matter is expected to be taken up again, with the court signalling that preserving the sanctity of rituals and preventing commercialisation of worship would be central to its consideration.

SC slams VIP pujas at Banke Bihari temple

SC flags exploitation of deity, questions paid rituals meant only for wealthy devotees

SC slams VIP pujas at Banke Bihari temple

SC flags exploitation of deity, questions paid rituals meant only for wealthy devotees

December 15, 2025 | 19:36 IST