Mumbai: In a good news for devotees, the famous Bhimashankar Temple in Pune has finally reopened on Monday, June 15. However, the Pune district administration has laid down certain riders for availing the darshan at the temple.
According to officials, the temple management has introduced an important new rule for visitors by making online registration mandatory for the darshan to manage the crowd inside the temple premises. Devotees can visit the temple’s official website to book their darshan slot. Furthermore, only 1,000 devotees will be allowed for darshan each day. The temple will remain open for devotees from 7 am to 11 pm.
The Bhimashankar temple, one of the 12 sacred Jyotirlinga shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva, has remained closed to devotees since January, due to renovation and redevelopment work. The District Collector had issued orders mandating the complete closure of the Temple for the period for the past five and a half months.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who visited the temple last week, has expressed confidence that about 90 percent of the renovation project work would be completed before the commencement of the Kumbh Mela next year.
He also performed the ritualistic worship of the foundation stone for the newly constructed assembly hall in front of the main temple at Bhimashankar, followed by the hoisting of the ‘Brahmadhwaja.’
“Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga is highly revered across the country. The project launched for the comprehensive development of this pilgrimage site, including the renovation of the original temple’s assembly hall and the development of the surrounding area, is progressing at a very fast pace. Through this development, the entire face of Bhimashankar will be transformed,” Fadnavis said.
However, the temple was mired in controversy recently due to the alleged preferential treatment given to Jharkhand BJP MP Nishikant Dubey in March. Dubey has come under scanner for granting of special entry and ‘VIP darshan’ to him even while the Jyotirlinga temple remained closed to the general public due to ongoing renovation work.
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