"Bhagwaan ki nazron me sab ek saman. Na koi bada na koi chota, na koi jaat paat aur na hi koi amiri gareebi ka fasala.”
I remember these lines from the stories that my granny used to tell me. And I have grown up with this belief only. But this belief got ..… when I visited with my friends to Vaishnodevi mandir in the month of may 2008.
On the contrary to what granny said, I found that the VIP or the rich people were given special treatment by the authority of the temple. The VIP’s were allowed to skip the queues to reach the holy caves. This decision made by the shrine board led to resentment amongst the common man. The slips were sold in black.
While everyone else waited in long queues, the VIPs, film stars and other important people got past without the long wait by paying a hefty sum of Rs 1000 to 1500.
Pilgrims were supposed to pay Rs 1,000 for morning darshan. For a darshan from the Bathing Gate (Gate No 2), the charge was fixed at Rs 500 per person, while Rs 200 to be charged for darshan through Gate-5. Children wouldn't have been charged.
But a few days ago when I visited Vaishno Devi again, I found that the earlier system of dividing the devotees into two classes - VIP and general has been withdrawn by the shrine board and from now there will be no more jumping the queues for a darshan.
People especially the middle-class group who can’t afford such a costly treatment are very happy. Devotees are satisfied with the feeling that everyone is the same for “DARSHAN OF MAA VAISHNO”.
I remember these lines from the stories that my granny used to tell me. And I have grown up with this belief only. But this belief got ..… when I visited with my friends to Vaishnodevi mandir in the month of may 2008.
On the contrary to what granny said, I found that the VIP or the rich people were given special treatment by the authority of the temple. The VIP’s were allowed to skip the queues to reach the holy caves. This decision made by the shrine board led to resentment amongst the common man. The slips were sold in black.
While everyone else waited in long queues, the VIPs, film stars and other important people got past without the long wait by paying a hefty sum of Rs 1000 to 1500.
Pilgrims were supposed to pay Rs 1,000 for morning darshan. For a darshan from the Bathing Gate (Gate No 2), the charge was fixed at Rs 500 per person, while Rs 200 to be charged for darshan through Gate-5. Children wouldn't have been charged.
But a few days ago when I visited Vaishno Devi again, I found that the earlier system of dividing the devotees into two classes - VIP and general has been withdrawn by the shrine board and from now there will be no more jumping the queues for a darshan.
People especially the middle-class group who can’t afford such a costly treatment are very happy. Devotees are satisfied with the feeling that everyone is the same for “DARSHAN OF MAA VAISHNO”.
