Temple authorities reject ban plea on Muslim-made attire for Lord Krishna at Banke Bihari

The Banke Bihari Temple administration in Uttar Pradesh has dismissed a proposal to prohibit attire made by Muslim weavers for the idol of Lord Krishna. The move came after certain Hindu groups demanded a ban on such garments, citing religious sentiments.

However, the temple authorities made it clear that they have no objections to accepting offerings from any community if they are made with faith and devotion.

Speaking to the media, Gyanendra Kishor Goswami, a member of the temple administration, stated, “We received a proposal to stop using 'poshaks' (attire) made by Muslim weavers. Our primary concern is to ensure the purity and sanctity of the attire offered to Thakurji.

If members of the Muslim community have faith in Thakurji, we have no objection to accepting 'poshaks' from them.”

The proposal was reportedly submitted by Dinesh Falahari, president of Shri Krishna Janambhumi Sangharsh Nyas, who is also involved in the ongoing Shahi Idgah mosque dispute in Mathura. The memorandum argued that it would be a grave sin to offer garments made by non-Hindus to the deity.

Nonetheless, the temple administration clarified that no changes had been made to the selection process for the deity’s dresses, emphasizing that any community member with faith is welcome to make offerings.

The controversy arose ahead of the vibrant Holi celebrations, which commenced at the Banke Bihari Temple on Monday. The temple, visited by 30,000 to 40,000 devotees daily—rising to over one lakh on weekends and festivals—began its grand Holi celebrations on the occasion of Rangbhari Ekadashi of the Falgun Shukla Paksha.

In a display of devotion and tradition, the idol of Thakur Banke Bihari Maharaj, dressed in white and seated on a silver throne, sprinkled colours on devotees using gold and silver water guns. Saffron-infused water, specially prepared for the festival, was used to mark the official start of Holi celebrations in the Braj region. 

Prahlad Vallabh Goswami, a temple priest, described the significance of the occasion, saying, “On Rangbhari Ekadashi, pure saffron-infused colour is prepared for Banke Bihari Ji. The sevayats first sprinkle this colour on the deity using gold and silver pichkaris, marking the traditional beginning of Holi.”

The temple will continue to celebrate Holi until Purnima (full Moon), with colours made from Tesu flowers, sandalwood, abir, and gulal being offered as part of the festivities. On Dhulandi, the day after Holi, the deity is adorned in pink royal attire and seated on a golden throne, while devotees play Holi in his presence.

In addition to the grand celebrations at Banke Bihari Temple, Holi festivities with Tesu colours were also held at other temples in Vrindavan, including Thakur Radha Vallabh, Thakur Radha Damodar, Thakur Radha Shyamsundar, and others.

Thousands of devotees took part in the annual Priya-Pritam Rangili Holi procession from the Radha Vallabh Temple, which toured the city before concluding at the temple courtyard. The procession featured deities seated on decorated chariots, playing Holi with the crowd.

To ensure the safety of devotees and smooth traffic flow, the district administration enforced a strict ban on three- and four-wheeled vehicles in areas with processions. Superintendent of Police (City) Arvind Kumar personally supervised the security arrangements to maintain order during the celebrations.

Holi holds a special place in Vrindavan, as it is widely believed that Lord Krishna played Holi with Radha and other 'gopis' in the forests of the region. One of the most captivating celebrations is the ‘Phoolon ki Holi,’ where flowers are used instead of colours, creating a mesmerizing spectacle at the Banke Bihari Temple every year.

With the festival coinciding with Jumma prayers on 14 March and rising communal tensions in parts of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, the temple administration’s inclusive stance has been widely appreciated for promoting harmony and unity among devotees.