Vice President Dhankhar Critiques VIP Darshan Culture in Religious Settings

Mangaluru, Jan 7 (NationPress) Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar stated on Tuesday that the concept of VIP darshan culture in religious sites is fundamentally at odds with the notion of equality.

He made these remarks during his speech at the inauguration of the new queue complex, Sri Sanidhya, at the renowned Hindu pilgrimage site in Karnataka's Dharmasthala, located in Mangaluru district.

Additionally, he launched the 2024-25 Jnanadeep program.

"Religious institutions symbolize equality as no individual holds superiority before the Almighty or God. We must restore the concept of equality within religious institutions. Granting precedence or labeling someone as VVIP diminishes the essence of equality," Vice President Dhankhar articulated.

"The VIP culture is a deviation, an incursion regarding the principle of equality. It has no rightful place in society, especially in religious venues," he emphasized.

"Let us permanently reject the VIP culture. The idea of VIP darshan contradicts divinity and should be abolished," he urged.

A notable positive change in recent years has been the infrastructural advancements related to our religious sites, which deserves commendation as they are also centers of our civilizational values," he acknowledged.

"India serves as the spiritual hub of the world, and Dharmasthala stands as its crown jewel. Millions visit here to receive blessings from the Lord," he mentioned.

"This location is a blend of spirituality, excellence, and beauty, equipped with modern facilities. India's religious sites transcend mere personal faith; they are pivotal for community service," Vice President Dhankhar remarked.

"The contributions of Dharmasthala in education and healthcare are significant. Since India is predominantly rural, its development is crucial for the national economy. Sri Kshetra is actively engaged in rural development efforts," he added.

"As India continues to grow on the global stage, our aim should not only be to transform India into a developed nation by 2047 but to make this our mission. Achieving this requires personal contributions towards the country. India is rich in culture, home to one-sixth of the global population. The younger generation must learn about our civilization; otherwise, we risk forgetting our history," the Vice President stated.

During the event, D. Veerendra Heggade, BJP Rajya Sabha MP and administrator of the Dharmasthala temple, highlighted that the core foundation of the newly launched complex is grounded in the principle of "Bhaktadhi devobhava" (Devotees are God).

This guiding principle has influenced every aspect of the design and construction of the temple, Heggade noted.

"Every element of the complex is created with a deep focus on enhancing the experience of the devotees, ensuring a more organized, comfortable, and inviting atmosphere during their visit. The various facilities within the complex are designed to provide each devotee with a smooth, efficient, and spiritually enriching experience," the BJP MP explained.

The Sri Sanidhya complex can accommodate approximately 10,000 individuals simultaneously, significantly reducing waiting time for devotees to receive darshan.

This new queue system complex, Sri Sanidhya, boasts cutting-edge technology and is a three-story building that spans 2,75,177 square feet with 16 waiting halls.

It includes amenities such as a children's care room, weighing room, food counter, well-maintained restrooms, a VIP waiting area, AI CCTV, air conditioning, emergency medical services, clean drinking water, television facilities, fire safety measures, emergency lifts, and solar power.

The Jnanadeepa project aims to enhance educational quality in rural regions.

Vice President Dhankhar inaugurated the 2024-25 Jnanadeepa project by awarding scholarships to students.

Present at the event were Vice President Dhankhar's wife Sudesh Dhankhar, Hemavati V. Heggade, BJP MP Brijesh Chowta, Vice President of SDM Educational Institutions D. Surendra Kumar, and Secretary of SDM Educational Institutions D. Harshendra Kumar.