Vrindavan, May 5
Restoration work on the Sewa Kunj, one of the four \"leela sthalies\" (most revered spots) of the Radha-Krishna legend, has been temporarily halted with a local NGO accused of playing with the \"sanctity\" and original design of the shrine by local priests who themselves are being accused of promoting \"narrow interests\".

\"Serious objections were raised to the so-called beautification which violated the original ethos and ambience of one of the most visited and respected sites of Vrindavan. We went to the court (last week) and have got a stay. The next date (of hearing) is May 21,\" Sewa Kunj Samiti president Radha Kumud told IANS.

Over a fortnight ago, beautification and overall makeover of one of the most sacred shrines set amidst dense foliage by the NGO Braj Foundation came under sharp criticism from the \'goswamis\' (priests) managing its affairs.

Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik was scheduled to open the renovated pond and the grove, but changed his mind due to the opposition.

Gaurav Gola, a spokesman for Braj Foundation, told IANS: \"Some people are unnecessarily raising fears and confusion. We have restored the holy shrine and done our best to bring it back to its glory, but narrow interests are preventing some people from looking at the larger picture.\"

Neither had the green cover been reduced nor had any trees been cut, he added.

The renovation work began in June 2011. Local folklore is that Krishna and Radha spend the night in Sewa Kunj and join the Ras Leela (dances) with the gopis. For this reason, after the evening prayers, the Sewa Kunj is closed for visitors and nobody is allowed to enter.

Located in the heart of Vrindavan, the spot was discovered by Swami Hit Harivansh Ji in 1590. Since then the devout have been maintaining the site and offering daily prayers here.

However due to general apathy and lack of support from Agra\'s callous civic authorities, the Sewa Kunj and the grove encircling it were reduced to a huge garbage dump. Without water, the green cover had been denuded and the boundary wall has collapsed at several points.

\"Before the renovation and sprucing up of the area around the Sewa Kunj began, the holy forest was in ruins and buried under municipal debris. Those who visited the site became victims of monkeys who snatched away their belongings. But now, the scenario has drastically changed and even the monkeys are under control,\" a local priest, Girdhari Lal, told IANS.

The new-look Sewa Kunj right now is a star attraction of Vrindavan with hundreds of domestic and foreign pilgrims making a beeline for the premises, which is shielded by spiked wires to prevent monkeys from entering. The Lalita Kund too has been given a makeover, with new fountains and shady ornamental trees planted all around.

While the work done by the local NGO has been widely appreciated by pilgrims and visitors, a small group of priests engaged by the shrine, called \"sewayats\", is opposed to the development and beautification.

The work done by the NGO at several other sites in the Braj area has been commended by independent observers. On March 11, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minster Akhilesh Yadav had formally opened a renovated holy pond called Rudra Kund at Jatipura in the Goverdhan area.

A section of Vrindavan goswamis is angry with the restoration work done by the Braj Foundation. One of them claimed that the NGO had done serious harm to the \"original ethos\" of the shrine grove.

\"The original swaroop (character) is lost as the whole of the grove is now covered with the metal net. It looks like a modern garden rather than an ancient grove,\" Pradyumna Pratap Maharaj of the Meera Bai Temple told IANS.

A priest, Bihari Lal Vashishtha, told IANS: \"They could have adjusted the restoration designs without harming the natural ambience. But they chose to go ahead with the construction work instead of planting new trees and helping the old groves to prosper.\"

\"Many trees have already been destroyed. The ancient look of the grove has already been finished. It will take many years to revive the original swaroop. We shall do our best to revive it,\" another priest, Prem Kumar Goswami, told IANS.

Sewa Kunj management committee president Radha Kumud told IANS: \"Yes, differences are definitely there. The beautification plan does not conform to the original design. Greenery has been affected. What is happening in Vrindavan is not right.\"

Eminent conservationist of Vrindavan Laxmi Gautam told IANS: \"Wall paintings were being repainted, stones with carvings and names of donors had been removed and so many deviations from the original had taken place. This is not conservation. You can\'t reduce Vrindavan to a touch-and-go type tourist spot. Please do not play with the feelings and faith of the Brajbasis.\"

(Brij Khandelwal can be contacted at brij.k@ians.in)

Priests clash with NGO, halt shrine beautification