Banke Bihari Corridor: Mathura admin draws up rehab scheme

THE STATE GOVERNMENT HAS BROUGHT AN ORDINANCE TO CREATE A TRUST TO RUN THE TEMPLE AND OVERSEE WORK OF THE PROPOSED CORRIDOR.

- HT Correspondent

AGRA: Amid the Goswamis' vocal opposition to the Banke Bihari Corridor plan, the Mathura district administration has come up with a scheme to rehabilitate the sevayats or servitors (the Goswami community members engaged in prayers and priestly duties) at the Banke Bihari temple in Vrindavan.

The plan envisages accommodating the sevayats at Rukmani Vihar in Vrindavan.

The Uttar Pradesh government's decision to form a trust to manage the Banke Bihari Temple and oversee the construction of the corridor has met with strong opposition from the Goswami community, the hereditary priests who have managed the temple for centuries. They view this as a government "takeover" attempt, eroding their traditional authority and control over the temple's affairs.

In the context of Hindu temples, sevayats are individuals or families who are responsible for performing various ritual services and duties related to the deity and the temple.

Their position is hereditary.

The Supreme Court has given the go-ahead for the Banke Bihari Corridor, an ambitious plan to ease crowd congestion and enhance the pilgrimage experience around the shrine.