Kashi Vishwanath Dham
– Photo: Amar Ujala
Expansion
Even the common devotees have to struggle a lot to get easy darshan of Devadhidev Mahadev in the temple of Kashipuradhipati. But, on the basis of Jugaad, in the last one year, 1.70 lakh ordinary devotees have had VIP darshan. Among these, there are more than 50 thousand devotees who have had touch darshan of Baba without protocol slip. After the revelations in the investigation of the protocol system, the temple administration has started implementing the system of easy darshan as per the rules set by the High Power Committee formed for security.
After Kashi Vishwanath Dham became a new, grand and divine Dham, devotees from all over the country and the world are coming to Kashi. In the last two years alone, more than 13 crore devotees have visited. In this, on the lines of easy darshan for VIPs, the benefit of darshan and worship is being provided under the protocol system. Employees and officials of different government departments broke into the integrated protocol system implemented in the temple and made even common devotees VIPs. From January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023, about 1.70 lakh devotees were identified who were allowed to do darshan and worship without any reason. In this, darshan worship has been conducted arbitrarily by breaking the protocol system every day at the level of administration, police as well as different departments. During investigation by the temple administration, around 15 thousand VIPs were found every month who were given protocol without any reason.
System of easy darshan is implemented
The temple administration has implemented the system of easy darshan. It has the facility of darshan of Baba with a Shastri for a fee of Rs 300. On similar lines, protocol system is also implemented for VIP, in this the competent authorities provide the benefit of easy darshan to the devotees free of cost. Let us tell you here that on the first day of the new year, 5.90 lakh devotees had created a new record by visiting.
Rs 4.5 crore lost in Baba’s treasury
Due to breach in the protocol system, Rs 4.5 crore has been lost in the treasury of Kashi Vishwanath. Every day 500 devotees performed darshan worship as per protocol instead of easy darshan. In this regard, about two and a quarter lakh devotees did not take Sugam Darshan tickets. If these devotees had performed the darshan puja with Sugam Darshan ticket, then Rs 4.5 crore could have reached Mahadev’s account.
Leaving aside basic work, spending time in temple
Many people associated with the management committee of the temple have been identified, who have left their original work and are spending their entire time in the temple. About a year ago, the administration had issued a letter to all the heads of departments asking them to issue a warning to the employees and officers who spend time in the temple. The system improved for some time, but with the passage of time, people associated with government departments are leaving their basic work and spending time in the temple. The administration has again issued a letter to all the departments.
A joint team of administration, police and CISF has been formed for protocol arrangements. It has been reviewed. A large number of cases of people ineligible for darshan and worship as per protocol have come to light. Since then a new system of protocols has been implemented. -Kaushal Raj Sharma, Divisional Commissioner
