Navsari: The Vadtal Swaminarayan sect is once again embroiled in controversy, this time for charging entry fees from devotees wishing to enter the temple. This case, which may be the first of its kind, comes from Navsari, where a new temple has been built by the Swaminarayan sect in the Navagam area. However, devotees who wish to have darshan of the deity in this newly constructed temple are being charged an entry fee under the guise of ‘seva.’

The newly built temple was recently inaugurated, and now a ticket window resembling those found in amusement parks has been set up on the temple premises. At the ticket counter, a board has been displayed stating that devotees can enter after paying this fee (seva), which, according to the temple, is being used for Gau Seva, Vanvasi Seva, and maintenance expenses.

The fees range from Rs. 30 to Rs. 100 for individuals above 12 years of age, and entry for children is not free either, as the fee for children between 5 and 12 years old ranges from Rs. 20 to Rs. 60. It is also reported that the ticket counter has a poster indicating that only cash is accepted.

The temple management has deployed heavy security to ensure that no one can enter the temple without a ticket. When inquired about why a temple is charging fees, the volunteers at the temple stated that if people want to have darshan of God for free, they can do so at the old temple outside the premises.

This move by the Swaminarayan temple raises questions about whether a tourism business is being run without considering the devotion of the people. DeshGujarat