Editor’s Note
This article describes the ceremonial adornment of deities in Gwalior with historic, high-value jewelry for Janmashtami. The text provided appears to be an incomplete fragment.
In the ancient Gopal Temple located in Phoolbagh, Gwalior, the deities Radha-Krishna have been adorned with centuries-old antique jewelry studded with diamonds, emeralds, rubies, topaz, and sapphires for Janmashtami. The value of these ornaments is approximately Rs 100 crore. On Saturday, these priceless jewels from the Scindia princely era were brought to the temple premises under tight security. The ornaments brought from the locker were counted by officials and the temple management committee in a meeting, and after matching them with the records, they were worn on the deities Radha-Krishna. Since afternoon, a line of devotees has formed at the temple to have darshan of Radha-Krishna laden with antique jewelry.
For security, around 200 police personnel and officers have been deployed around the temple, who have established a three-layer security arrangement at the temple. No one can enter the temple without checking. Also, police officers are monitoring through more than fifty CCTVs. The aarti will be held at the temple at 8:30 PM and Lord Krishna’s birth will be celebrated late at night.
Gopal Temple was established in 1921 by the then ruler of Gwalior princely state, Madhavrao Scindia I. He had silver utensils made for worship and gem-studded gold ornaments made for the deities. These include Radha-Krishna’s emerald-studded seven-string necklace, in which 55 are just emeralds. A gold flute on which diamonds and rubies are set. There are gold nose rings, chains, and silver worship utensils. Every year on Janmashtami, Radha-Krishna are adorned with these jewels. Devotees wait all year to see this form. This is why there is a constant stream of devotees for darshan. Foreign devotees are also included among them.
The maintenance of the priceless and antique ornaments offered to Radha-Krishna in Gopal Temple and the work of withdrawing them from the bank is the responsibility of the Gwalior Municipal Corporation administration. On Saturday afternoon, officials of the Municipal Corporation withdrew the ornaments from the bank locker amid tight police security and reached the temple. Here, each gem, ornament, and pearl was counted. After matching them with the register and cleaning them, the priest adorned the deities Radha-Krishna.
Until before India’s independence, the deities used to wear these ornaments regularly, but after independence, the ornaments were kept in a bank locker. They came under the supervision of the Municipal Corporation in 2007, and since then, they have been taken out of the locker every Janmashtami. Since then, continuously every Janmashtami, the deities Radha-Krishna are adorned with these ornaments.
This Gopal Temple is at the center point Phoolbagh in Gwalior. On Janmashtami, more than 200 personnel have been deployed for the security of the deity wearing crores worth of ornaments. The temple has been fortified from all sides. Metal detector gates have been installed at every door so that there is no shortcoming of any kind. A three-tier security system has been created around the temple. Also, no one is being allowed inside without checking.
For Janmashtami, more than fifty CCTV cameras have been installed here. Through these, strict surveillance is being maintained from all routes to the temple. The CCTVs currently installed in the temple are for regular temple monitoring. For Janmashtami surveillance, over 50 CCTV cameras have been installed separately.
– Nagar Nigam Commissioner Sangh Priya
