Banke Bihari Temple, Hindu temple in Vrindavan, India
Banke Bihari is a place of worship in Vrindavan located in the heart of the old town, reached through narrow lanes lined with shops and food stalls. The interior shows marble columns and polished stone flooring, while the ceiling carries painted patterns and the central shrine houses the statue behind a movable curtain.
The site was established in 1864 where a statue had been found in a grove near a small pond. The spiritual teacher Swami Haridas is said to have discovered the figure there, after which the shrine was built and quickly became a draw for pilgrims from across the region.
The name refers to the bent posture of the deity figure, while worshipers consider the gaze of the statue so powerful that a curtain opens and closes at regular intervals. These brief moments when you can see the image shape the rhythm of devotion and create a constant shift between waiting and direct encounter.
Access runs through narrow lanes where crowding can be heavy, especially on weekends and festival days. Shoes must be removed before entering, and electronic devices such as cameras or mobile phones are not allowed inside.
The morning ceremony begins later than at other shrines in town because worshipers believe the deity rests after nighttime celebrations. This idea shapes the daily schedule and means the first visitors arrive only around nine in the morning.
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