'Nauseating trend': Harsh Goenka questions VIP darshan at temples, says he believed 'before God, the billionaire, the celebrity & the ordinary devotee were all equal'

Industrialist Harsh Goenka has questioned the growing trend of turning temple visits into publicity events, saying religious places should not become spaces for VIP treatment, selfies and social media promotion.

In a post on X, Goenka called temple visits being accompanied by photographers and followed by widespread circulation through influencers a “nauseating trend”.

He also questioned the practice of VIP darshan at Mumbai’s famous Lalbaugcha Raja, asking why devotees should receive different treatment based on their status.


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Harsh Goenka questions VIP darshan at temples

“Why VIP darshan at Lalbaugcha Raja?” Goenka wrote, adding that he had always believed that “before God, the billionaire, the celebrity and the ordinary devotee were all equal”.

“Shouldn’t everyone stand in the same queue?” he asked.

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Massive crowd gathers at Lalbaugcha Raja for darshan

Goenka’s comments come amid renewed discussions around the experience of ordinary devotees at Lalbaugcha Raja during Ganeshotsav. Viral videos this year have shown large crowds and devotees being hurried through the darshan area, with questions being raised over preferential treatment for prominent visitors.

As per the official website of the Lalbaugcha Raja Mandal, it does not issue VIP passes or charge devotees for darshan. The mandal offers Mukh Darshan and Charan Sparsh Darshan, both of which are free.

The debate around VIP culture at the pandal is not new. In 2024, Goenka had also questioned why devotees opted for VIP darshan, pointing to the long queues and crowds faced by ordinary worshippers and asking whether faith should not be equal for everyone.

Equal before God? VIP darshan debate

The issue has again come into focus during this year's Ganeshotsav, with reports of devotees waiting for several hours for darshan while videos of prominent visitors at the pandal have circulated widely on social media.

For Goenka, however, the larger question appears to be about keeping the experience of worship separate from status and publicity, and whether everyone should simply be treated as a devotee once they enter a place of worship.