Overcrowding Alert: Avoid Banke Bihari Darshan Till Jan 5

• Devotees advised to avoid visits from December 29 to January 5
• Management warns of safety concerns due to overcrowded narrow lanes
• Families, elderly, children and the sick asked to postpone visits
• District administration restricts vehicle entry, diverts heavy traffic

GG News Bureau
Vrindavan, 30th Dec: The Shri Banke Bihari Ji Temple Management Committee has appealed to devotees to avoid visiting the famed temple in Vrindavan between December 29 and January 5, citing an unprecedented surge in crowds and potential safety risks.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the committee said there is an overwhelming rush in and around the temple, making movement through Vrindavan’s narrow lanes extremely difficult. It warned that the congestion inside and outside the temple premises could lead to untoward incidents.

The appeal follows consultations with the Goswami (priest) community, which expressed concern over the immense pressure on devotees during the year-end and New Year period. Large numbers of couples and families traditionally travel to Vrindavan, Mathura and other temples across the Braj region at this time to seek Lord Krishna’s blessings, causing crowd levels to swell sharply.

Temple authorities have specifically advised families to avoid bringing young children, elderly persons, women, people with disabilities and those who are unwell during this peak period. These groups have been urged to plan their visits only after the crowd pressure subsides.

The committee recommended postponing trips to Vrindavan until at least January 5 and asked devotees to assess the crowd situation before making travel plans.

Meanwhile, the Mathura district administration has imposed restrictions on the entry of outside vehicles into Vrindavan to reduce congestion. Heavy vehicles are being diverted, barricades have been installed at all major entry points, and all incoming vehicles are being directed to designated parking zones to manage the festive rush.