LUCKNOW: The treasury of Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan, Mathura, is set to open after 54 years.
Located directly beneath the sanctum sanctorum, the seat of Banke Bihariji, the toshkhana (treasury) was last accessed in 1971, when precious jewellery was transferred to a bank for safety.
As per the sources, the treasure comprises of rare artefacts, including a peacock necklace made of emeralds, Sahasra Phani, a silver Sheshnag, and navratnas (nine gems) in a golden kalash.
The decision to open it was taken at a temple committee meeting on Thursday.
A special committee, comprising temple management, civil judges, auditors, and police officers, will oversee the process to be videographed.
According to the temple historians, the treasury, built in 1864, follows the Vaishnav tradition. The treasury houses offerings from the Bharatpur, Karauli, and Gwalior kingdoms, as well as sealed documents, gifts, letters of appreciation, land deeds, donated buildings, temples, and fields.
The local sources claimed that the treasury was last opened in 1971 under the supervision of then temple committee president Pyarelal Goyal.
Jewellery then removed from the treasury was sealed in a box and stored in a State Bank locker in Bhuteshwar, Mathura, with an inventory provided to all committee members.
Though guarded vigilantly, the Banke Bihari temple treasury has a history of thefts.
It has a history of being robbed twice during the British era in 1926 and 1936.
Following such incidents, the main basement door was closed, leaving only a small window for offerings. Two prior attempts to open the treasury, in 2002 and 2004, were unsuccessful in the absence of official permission.
The committee also approved changes in temple timings: summer morning aarti from 7:00–7:15 AM, evening darshan from 4:15–9:30 PM, and corresponding adjustments for winter.
VIP passes will be discontinued, and all police and private security personnel will remain at their posts.
Plans are underway to hire trained security or retired soldiers to enhance protection. The Banke Bihari Temple High-Power Management Committee meeting was attended by retired District Judge Mukesh Mishra, District Judge Vikas Kumar, Civil Judge Shipra Dubey, DM Chandra Prakash Singh, SSP Shlok Kumar, Commissioner Jag Pravesh, MVDA Vice Chairman Shyam Bahadur Singh, ASI archaeologist Dr Smita S Kumar, and sevayats Shailendra Goswami, Varadan Goswami, Dinesh Goswami, and Vijay Krishna Goswami Babbu.