Highlights
On Shri Krishna Janmashtami, jewels are brought from the bank to the Gopal Mandir in Gwalior. They will be brought to the temple and after testing, the idols of Radha and Krishna will be decorated. The Gopal Mandir was established about 103 years ago by the Scindia royal family.
Naiduniya Representative Gwalior. On the occasion of Shri Krishna Janmashtami, the idols of Radha-Krishna in the princely era Gopal Mandir located in Gwalior’s Phoolbagh will be adorned with precious antique jewelry. These jewels from the Scindia princely era are studded with precious gems like gold, diamond, sapphire, emerald, ruby and topaz.
On Monday, these jewels will be brought to the temple under tight security and then after testing, the idols of Radha and Krishna will be decorated. After this, the doors of Gopal Mandir will be opened for devotees at exactly 12 noon. More than 400 soldiers will be deployed around the temple. Let us tell you that Gopal Mandir was established by the Scindia royal family about 103 years ago.
This precious gemstone studded jewellery is also a gift of the Scindia family
Gopal Mandir was established in 1921 by the then ruler of Gwalior State, Madhavrao Scindia I. He had made silver utensils for the worship of the Lord and gold ornaments studded with gems for wearing.
These include a seven-strand necklace of 55 emeralds studded with Radha-Krishna, a gold flute studded with diamonds and rubies, a gold nose ring, necklace and silver worship utensils. The responsibility of maintaining the antique jewellery worn by Radha-Krishna and withdrawing it from the bank rests with the Municipal Corporation. The Municipal Corporation has the arrangement of withdrawing the jewellery from the bank, keeping it in the treasury at night and depositing it in the bank locker the next day.
The police has the responsibility of providing three-tier security while bringing the jewellery from the bank and depositing it back. Continuous decoration for 17 years In the year 2007, the responsibility of looking after these antique jewellery was given to the Municipal Corporation, since then the idols of Radha-Krishna are being decorated on the occasion of Janmashtami.
Before independence, Gods used to wear these jewels. Diamonds and emeralds are studded in the crowns of both Radha and Krishna. Krishna’s flute is made of gold and diamonds are studded on it too. Sapphire, topaz, emerald and ruby are studded in the necklace.