Darshan and pooja at Banke Bihari

How darshan works here

Darshan means "seeing", and in Hindu worship it is understood as a two-way act: the devotee sees the deity and is seen in return. Historical record At Banke Bihari, the temple's history notes that darshan "is never continuous but is broken by the curtain drawn on him regularly". Source: Official temple history (opens in a new tab) Each glimpse between closings is often called a jhanki.

Religious belief Devotees explain the curtain with stories about the power of Banke Bihari's gaze, and about the Lord following a devotee out of the temple. Read the custom and its stories.

In practice, darshan comes in short moments. If the curtain closes as you reach the front, wait: it opens again.

Before you go in

• The temple states that registration is no longer required for darshan. Source: Official temple FAQ (opens in a new tab)
• The temple states that it does not have a VIP darshan system. Source: Official temple FAQ (opens in a new tab)
• The temple asks visitors to follow the queue system, and not to bring footwear, leather items, umbrellas, mobile phones or electronic gadgets. Source: Official temple do's and don'ts (opens in a new tab)
• The temple says it receives more devotees than usual on Ekadashi, Purnima and Amavasya, on weekends and during annual festivals, and advises elderly devotees and those with small children to avoid festival days. Source: Official temple FAQ (opens in a new tab); Official temple website: visit the temple (opens in a new tab)

Special darshans in the temple calendar

These occasions are listed in the temple's published festival calendar. Each draws very large crowds, so read the visitor advice above before planning to attend. Source: Official temple festival calendar (opens in a new tab)

Akshaya Tritiya: Charan and Sarvang darshan

Historical record The temple lists "Charan Darshan (morning) and Sarvang Darshan (evening)" on Akshaya Tritiya, Vaishakh Shukla Tritiya. The temple's calendar lists it on 20 April 2026. Source: Official temple festival calendar (opens in a new tab) Charan darshan is darshan of the Lord's feet. Secondary sources Devotional sources describe the feet as anointed with sandalwood paste on this day.

Sharad Purnima: Day of Maha Raas

Historical record The temple lists Sharad Purnima as the "Day of Maha Raas". The temple's calendar lists it on 26 October 2026. Source: Official temple festival calendar (opens in a new tab) Secondary sources Secondary sources state that this is the one day of the year on which Banke Bihari holds the flute. Source: Wikipedia: Banke Bihari Temple (opens in a new tab) (tertiary) We have not confirmed this from a primary source.

Janmashtami: the only Mangla Aarti

Historical record The temple's calendar says Mangla Aarti is performed only on Janmashtami, and its history notes that the temple does not otherwise have a tradition of Mangala. Source: Official temple festival calendar (opens in a new tab); Official temple history (opens in a new tab) This is the most crowded moment of the temple's year. In August 2022 two devotees died of suffocation during the Janmashtami mangla aarti. Source: Business Standard, 20 August 2022 (opens in a new tab) The temple advises elderly devotees and those with small children to avoid festivals. Source: Official temple website: visit the temple (opens in a new tab)

Hariyali Teej: the Jhoola festival

Historical record The temple lists Hariyali Teej, Shravan Shukla Tritiya, as the "Jhoola festival". The temple's calendar lists it on 15 August 2026. Source: Official temple festival calendar (opens in a new tab) Secondary sources Secondary sources describe Banke Bihari being seated on an ornate swing on this day. See our article on Jhulan at Banke Bihari.

Phool Bangla season

Historical record The temple's calendar marks Kamada Ekadashi as the first day and Hariyali Amavasya as the last day of Phool Bangla. Source: Official temple festival calendar (opens in a new tab) A phool bangla is a bower of flowers built around the deity.

Holi

Historical record The temple's calendar marks Aamla Ekadashi, Phalgun Shukla Ekadashi, as the day "colourful Holi celebrations start". It lists the date for 2027 as 18 March 2027. Source: Official temple festival calendar (opens in a new tab) Read our Holi guide.

Radha Ashtami

Historical record The temple lists Radha Ashtami, Bhadrapad Shukla Ashtami, as the birthday of Radha and of Swami Haridas. The temple's calendar lists it on 19 September 2026. Source: Official temple festival calendar (opens in a new tab)

Bihar Panchami

Temple tradition The temple lists Margashirsha Shukla Panchami as the "Day of Appearance of Bihariji". The temple's calendar lists it on 14 December 2026. Source: Official temple festival calendar (opens in a new tab) See our article on Bihar Panchami.

Making offerings

You do not need to bring anything to have darshan. Historical record The temple asks devotees to deposit offerings in the hundi (donation box) or at the branch office inside the temple premises. Source: Official temple do's and don'ts (opens in a new tab)

Shops in the lanes around the temple sell sweets, flowers and other items that devotees buy as offerings. We have not independently verified what can be handed over at the sanctum on a given day, which may depend on crowd conditions. Follow the instructions of temple staff, and never throw offerings toward the sanctum, where they can hurt people in front of you.

Sponsoring seva and pooja

The daily seva of Banke Bihari is performed by the sevayat Goswamis. Source: Official temple history (opens in a new tab) The official temple website has its own pages for donations and for inviting Thakur Ji. It also states that the temple's online activities are run by a trust promoted by the trustees, independently of the management committee. Source: Official temple website: trust and management (opens in a new tab)

Etiquette and the temple's rules

The temple publishes these rules for visitors. Source: Official temple do's and don'ts (opens in a new tab)

Our own advice, which is not a temple rule: wear modest, comfortable clothing, keep your voice low, and move aside after darshan so that others can come forward.

Darshan from home

The official temple website has a Live Darshan section on its home page. Source: Official temple website: darshan timings (opens in a new tab) Treat other channels offering "live darshan" with care, and do not pay any channel for darshan or blessings.