Woman pays ₹4,000 to ‘priest’ for VIP darshan at Kashi Vishwanath temple, police step in: ‘Saari duniya free mein darshan kar rahi hai… tum ₹4,000 kyun le rahe ho?’
For one family from Karnataka, a visit to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple was supposed to be the highlight of their trip to Varanasi.Instead, it became an expensive lesson in how easily faith can be exploited.Nandini, who had travelled from Mysuru with her family during the holy month of Sawan, was waiting in the crowd outside the temple when a man dressed as a priest approached them. He had an offer that sounded convincing: skip the long queue and get a quicker darshan for ₹4,000.With thousands of devotees pouring into the temple every day, it didn’t seem impossible. So the family trusted him and transferred the money online.Moments later, the man was nowhere to be found.That’s when they realised something wasn’t right.
A complaint changed everything
Instead of giving up and returning home disappointed, Nandini approached police personnel deployed near the temple and explained what had happened.The officers acted quickly.They searched the area, located the alleged fraudster and confronted him on the spot. A video of the exchange has since gone viral, with many praising the police for stepping in.One officer can be heard asking the man a simple question that has resonated with people online:“Saari duniya free mein darshan kar rahi hai… tum ₹4,000 kyun le rahe ho?”(“Everyone else is getting darshan for free. Why are you charging ₹4,000?”)The officer then told the man to return the money immediately.Turning to the family, he said, “Madam, aap chinta mat kijiye. Main aapko darshan karwa deta hoon.” (“Madam, don’t worry. I’ll make sure you have your darshan.”)It was a small moment, but one that changed the outcome of what could have been a very upsetting experience.
The video sparked a wider conversation
As the clip spread online, many people applauded the police for acting swiftly. But the incident also struck a nerve for another reason.Every year, especially during Sawan, lakhs of devotees travel long distances to temples like Kashi Vishwanath. Many are visiting for the first time. They aren’t always familiar with the local arrangements, and that makes them easy targets for people claiming they can arrange “VIP” or “special” entry.Several social media users said the incident should serve as a reminder to never hand over money to strangers promising faster darshan.“If someone approaches you outside the temple asking for money, check with the police first,” one user wrote.Another commented that people who exploit devotees in the name of religion should be kept away from temple premises altogether.
Faith shouldn’t come with a price tag
Long queues during festivals can test anyone’s patience. It’s understandable why a family, especially after travelling hundreds of kilometres, might be tempted by the promise of a quicker entry.But this incident is a reminder that official darshan at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple doesn’t require payments to strangers standing outside.Sometimes, asking a nearby police officer or an authorised temple volunteer can save both money and disappointment.For Nandini and her family, the trip ended on a better note than it might have. They got their ₹4,000 back, completed their darshan and returned home with a story they probably never expected to tell.
