51L log in for Banke Bihari virtual darshan in 15 days, outnumber temple visitors

Agra: Online devotees have outnumbered in-person visits at Mathura's Shri Banke Bihari Temple in the past 15 days since digital darshan was launched on Rangbharni Ekadashi on Feb 27, with authorities also reporting improved crowd management at the shrine. Officials said over 51 lakh devotees logged in for live-stream darshan during this period, compared with around 45.4 lakh devotees who visited the temple to offer prayers.The initiative allows devotees to watch 10 hours of daily live streaming of key rituals — including Shringar, Rajbhog and Shayanbhog aartis — across platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and X.To support the system, five advanced cameras have been installed inside and outside the temple, while six large LED screens have been placed within the premises so that devotees can watch the rituals without crowding near the sanctum sanctorum.Mathura district magistrate Chandra Prakash Singh said the initiative is part of the state govt's efforts to combine technology with faith while ensuring safer and more organised darshan. "Live streaming and installation of large screens have significantly improved crowd management at the temple. The use of technology has also strengthened security arrangements and allowed devotees across the country to connect with Banke Bihari ji from their homes," he said.Officials said the facility has slightly reduced pressure on temple footfall, making crowd management easier. The 19th-century Banke Bihari temple in Vrindavan receives an average of 30,000–40,000 visitors daily, with numbers rising to around one lakh on weekends and nearly five lakh during festivals such as Janmashtami and Holi. The need for better crowd control has been highlighted in the past as well. A stampede-like incident during Janmashtami celebrations in 2022 left two devotees dead, and in Sept 2023, the Allahabad high court directed the state govt to implement a corridor plan to improve crowd management and safety at the shrine.Meanwhile, devotees visiting the shrine also welcomed the initiative. Sulekha Gautam, who travelled from Ghaziabad with her family, said the arrangements made the experience more comfortable. "Earlier, the narrow lanes and heavy crowds used to make us anxious. Now, we watched the live darshan on LED screens and then entered the temple in an orderly queue," she said.Another devotee, Arun from Delhi, said the digital facility allowed him to watch the Rajbhog aarti even during work hours. "Now, I can join the darshan online from my office, and when I visited Vrindavan, the arrangements were much more organised than before," he said.