Editor’s Note
This article describes the recent adornment of deities at Gwalior’s Gopal Temple with historic jewelry, estimated at over ₹100 crore and originating from the Scindia era over 150 years ago. The report highlights the cultural and material significance of these precious ornaments.
In Gwalior’s Gopal Temple, deities Shri Radha-Krishna were adorned with antique jewelry valued at over Rs 100 crore. These ornaments are studded with precious gems including diamonds, emeralds, rubies, pearls, topaz, and sapphires. The jewelry dates back over 150 years to the era of the Scindia princely state.
Around 11 AM, the antique jewelry was retrieved from a bank locker under tight security via a police van. The set includes a seven-strand necklace, bracelets, armlets, a pearl garland, and golden crowns. For its protection, 200 security personnel were deployed, and surveillance was conducted through over 50 CCTV cameras.
Municipal Commissioner Aman Vaishnav, along with other public representatives, adorned the deities with the jewelry.
At Gopal Temple, in the presence of Gwalior Municipal Commissioner Aman Vaishnav and Chairman Manoj Tomar, the jewelry was counted and verified before being handed over to temple priest Pradeep Sarvate. The Commissioner, priest, and other officials then adorned the idols of Shri Krishna and Radhaji. After the noon Aarti around 12 PM, the temple was opened for devotees.
After the adornment around noon, the temple was opened for darshan (viewing). Devotees had already gathered in large numbers.
Gopal Temple was established in 1921 by the then ruler of Gwalior state, Madhavrao Scindia I. He had silver utensils and gem-studded gold ornaments made for the worship of the deities. These include a 55-emerald studded seven-strand necklace for Radha-Krishna, a gold flute studded with diamonds and rubies, a gold nose ring, chains, and silver utensils for worship.
Until before independence, the deities regularly wore these ornaments, but later they were kept in a locker. In 2007, the responsibility for their upkeep was handed over to the Municipal Corporation. Since then, every year on Janmashtami, they are taken out of the locker. The same ornaments are used to adorn the deities annually.
The maintenance of the precious antique jewelry worn by Shri Radha-Krishna and the task of retrieving it from the bank is the responsibility of the Municipal Corporation. The jewelry is kept in a Central Bank locker for the special adornment of the deities.
Every year, a committee is formed which retrieves the jewelry from the locker on the morning of the festival and brings it to the Shri Radha-Krishna Temple. Here, the jewelry is cleaned and used to adorn the deities. The next morning, the ornaments are removed, placed in boxes, and then returned to the locker.
It is noted that the administration has estimated the total value of all jewelry at Rs 100 crore. An individual valuation for each piece has not been prepared, so the specific value of particular items has not been disclosed.
Under the special supervision of the Mayor, Chairman, and Municipal Commissioner, the precious antique jewelry is retrieved from the locker to adorn Shri Radha-Krishna.
The emerald in the crown of Shri Radha-Krishna is priceless. Devotees wait all year to see the deities in this form. This is why a continuous stream of devotees visits the temple for darshan, including foreign devotees.
