Mathura, Amrit Vichar: The Toshakhana (Treasury) of the world famous Banke Bihari Temple, which was closed since 1971, was opened on Dhanteras (Saturday) after about 54 years on the orders of the high-powered committee constituted by the Supreme Court. An official confirmed this on Sunday. The Supreme Court, in its order of August 2025, had constituted a 12-member high-powered interim committee headed by retired Allahabad High Court Justice Ashok Kumar to oversee the daily functioning of the temple.
Additional District Magistrate (Finance and Revenue) Dr. Pankaj Kumar Verma said that the treasury room was opened with other members including four Goswami members under the supervision of Civil Judge (Junior Division). He told that there was some difficulty in opening the room. The basement was opened again today for the second day. The basement of Thakur temple was opened on the first day. When the basement was opened on the first day, some utensils, a wooden throne and boxes were found in which some utensils belonged to the devotees. On the first day, utensils and a silver umbrella were found in the trunk, while on the second day also old utensils were found in the trunk.
The main door of the treasury was opened again at 1.30 pm on Sunday afternoon. When the team opened the remaining two iron boxes, utensils were also found in them. There was nothing in the basement located here. Another passage about two by two times was found in one wall of the basement, a room was found adjacent to the wall. A box was found in this room. A gold stick about three feet long and two silver sticks slightly smaller than that were found in it.
ADM said that the auditor’s team has made a list of the items found in the room. However, the Goswami community was opposing the move. Shailendra Goswami, a member of the high-powered committee, said that the Toshakhana should not have been opened at all.
He said that I opposed this move and have also written letters in this regard. Shailendra Goswami said that this committee is an interim committee, not permanent. It was formed by the Honorable Supreme Court only to ensure the convenience of darshan of the devotees. The committee should not interfere in other matters. They are taking unfair advantage and encroaching on rights. Why are they opening the treasure, and what do they want to prove with it?
Supreme Court lawyer and temple servant Sumit Goswami said that this ad-hoc committee had no right to open Toshakhana. The committee only had to see that the darshan of Thakur ji was made easy for the devotees. Furthermore, he claimed that the process was not telecast live. Shailendra Goswami said that videography was done. He said that one Goswami member of the high-powered committee, Shrivardhan Goswami, was not present due to health reasons. Gyanendra Goswami, an official of the Banke Bihari temple, expressed concern over the opening of the chamber and said that the process should have been done in a more transparent manner. He also raised questions as to why the media was not allowed.
