Vrindavan’s Diwali is the best of all. Thousands of pilgrims entered Braj for Diwali (yesterday) Goverdhan Pooja (today) and Yama Dwitia Yamuna snan (tomorrow). The tourist crowd is less on Diwali than on the other main festivals, because, Diwali is primarily a home-based festival; where families gather to welcome Sri Ram into their homes. Vrindavan’s migrant worker population also shrinks considerably, because, whenever possible, people return to their villages for the festival, which is often the only time in the whole year that they make the journey to see their relatives. Whoever gets the chance to visit Vrindavan’s temples at this time, will find the atmosphere festive. As Dhruva Sharma from Hindi VT said, in Vrindavan, Diwali is not one day, it is a whole month. Read more (Hindi)
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No consensus in meeting on Biharji development work. Tuesday, Vrindavan: Banke Bihari Goswamis met with officials from Braj Tirth Vikas Parishad (BTVP) to discuss needed improvements in visitor services and temple access. Last month, the Yogi Government announced the plan to spend 100 crore on developing the area surronding Banke Bihari temple. At the meeting, BTVP officials gave suggestions about ways that Goswamis could facilitate visitors. Their three main suggestions were: (1) extend darshan timings (2) bring Bihariji out from the inner chamber (3) widen the walkway at the entrance of the temple. Bihariji Goswamis were not interested in any of these suggestions. The Goswamis had their own demands, including: improvement of the roads to Bihariji, improvements in lighting, installation of handrails on the stairs on the pavement outside and installation of drinking water facilities close to the temple. Read more (Hindi)
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P.C. Paterson Energy
Vrindavan’s recycling plant opening soon. Paterson Energy will soon create gasoline and diesel from Braj’s plastic waste. Two committees have been set up to acquire 1.5 acres of land for the plant. The company will work under government contract, under the National Green Tribunal and the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Clean India Movement). The municipality does not have any suitable area for the plant, so land will be purchased from a private owner. The search for suitable land is now underway. The site for the plant must be at least 200 meters away from any river, pond, highway, housing, public garden or water supply. Read more (Hindi)
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P.C. Hindustan
Supreme Court panel on Vrindavan’s Widows. In August this year, the Supreme Court formed a panel to discuss the upliftment of Vrindavan’s widows. Widow remarriage is being encouraged by the panel, but, they are also investigating a range of solutions to reduce widows’ vulnerability. The final report will be given on November 30th, but, interim reports have indicated the need for measures such as vocational training centres and job placements, in order to give widows financial independence. One of the members of the 6 member panel, Meera Khanna, from the Guild for Service, said that many widows, especially if older, do not wish to get remarried. They are in need of security and need to be protected from the “vicious circle of cultural marginalization and economic deprivation”. Read more (English)
**UPCOMING EVENTS**
OCT. 21-27 Pundrik Goswami at Hare Krishna Orchid Read more
OCT. 24 Parikrama. Chaurasi Kos Parikrama run by Hit Ashram from Oct. 24. Read more
OCT 24-29 Naresh Sharma (Fajilka) Sankirtan program. Pushpanjali Vaikunth, Phase 1, on Tehra Road. Some big talent coming, namely Vinode Agarwal on Oct. 29th. Read more
OCT. 25 ISKCON Rath yatra in Vrindavan. 12-5pm. Read more
OCT. 25-Nov. 1 Hit Ashram Swami Nimai Sriramji’s troupe doing both Gauranga lila (mornings 9-12) and Rasa Lila (evenings 6-9), Read more
OCT. 31 Samuhika Vivaha A mass charitable marriage, where sponsors finance the marriages of poor women, who cannot afford dowry. This event is scheduled for the first day when Hindu marriages become possible – Utthan Ekadashi, the day of Vishnu’s rising from his four month sleep. Read more
*If you have an upcoming event, contact us at: vrindavantoday@gmail.com
The post Today’s Digest: Vrindavan’s Diwali; Bihariji meeting; Panel on widows, Events, and more… appeared first on Vrindavan Today.
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