Braj Overview

We have inspected different areas of the Braj so that whoever is interested in improving the cleanliness and maintenance of the holy places can take action. We can all start inspecting forest by forest and shrine by shrine and submit a report if we find that any place is at great risk or has difficulties so that others can become aware of the situation and help. In places where there is small and middle sized garbage or waste, the local people can be responsible for collecting them.

We visited the Akrura Ghat and witnessed the beautiful development of the temple, but right next to the most beautiful development, the crops are being irrigated with toxic substances which later contaminate the people of Vrindavan in the form of poisoned sabjis (preparation made with vegetables).

The objective of the Braj overview is to evaluate the overall health situation, how the local people and authorities are maintaining the different areas, so in the event something very nasty shows up, a report is submitted immediately, so they at least the people who are responsible feel embarrassed and sometimes even stop those bad habits. For example, in Vrindavan people burn plastic which is a health hazard since children sometimes get a stick to play with it; this is very dangerous because of the toxic substances that come out from the burning plastic making them sick.

This is why for the Braj inspection we are sending our own representatives to each area and in some places we even have permanent observers, like Lalita Madhava das in Radha Kunda or Shyam das at the Yatipur of Govardhan Hill. We also are travelling to inspect important shrines like Belvan, Raval and Prem Sarovar, where regular garbage collection is taking place through our own effort.

But all this effort is not sufficient and everybody should become part of the solution. Anybody visiting the holy places should not leave any garbage behind and always be conscious of helping increase awareness of the need to preserve the holy places.