Vrindavan, 2018.02.19

It is a celebration time for the entire Beriwala family. The mercy of Thakur Banke Bihari is being showered on the ‘Beirwalas’ even today which began almost 100 years before.

The ‘seva’ established by Lala Shri Har Gulal ji Beriwala entered the 100th year on Fulhara Dauj, according to the Vaishnava Calendar. This year this auspicious day fell on 17th February.

His relatives have continued serving Banke Bihari even after almost 100 years. March 4th 2018 marks the beginning of the 100th year since Seth Har Gulal Beriwala ji began his service to Thakur Shri Banke Bihariji.

Lala ji arranged a special bhoga offering to Thakur Banke Bihari ji Maharaj, out of great love for the Lord. This bhog came to be known as kuccha Bhog. This particular ‘Bhog’ is a change from the spicy and ghee laden food that is offered to Bihariji.

← Old photo of Shri Radhe Shyam ji Beriwala, in the middle with the saints of Tatiasthan

Lala ji gave a donation to provide for a daily offering of simple, boiled vegetables. The kuccha Bhog offering is still made in Banke Bihari temple to this day. This Bhog is offered to the Lord during the noon time.

The ‘pucca bhog’, which is offered in the evening and other intermediate bhogs are also prepared in the Haveli. The tradition of sending the ‘bhog’ from the Haveli is continued even today.
The friends and relatives of the Beriwala family gathered in Vrindavan to celebrate the approach of 100th years of service.

Three days long celebration began on Friday in which all the Beriwala family members and their friends went to Nidhivan and performed ‘badhai’ song at the Samadhi of Swami Haridas.
Thereafter they went to the Banke Bihari Temple, where the men and women of the families performed the ‘badhai song’ and danced in front of their beloved ‘Thakur Banke Bihari ji Maharaj.’ After that they went to ‘Haveli’, where Seth Har Gulal ji Beriwala’s family lives. Apart from all other mode of celebrations the audio visual of ‘Beriwala’ families ‘seva’ to Banke Bihari was displayed to the family members and devotees.

Sadhu seva, a feast for the saints, babajis and vaishnavas were organised at the Bihari ji ka bagicha during noon. Shri Dayal Das Baba and his associates from the Haridas Seva Sansthan performed ‘Samaj’ in the evening.

←Women dancing to celebrate the beginning of the seva centennial

On the third day, special ‘Samaj’ and ‘Prasad’ distribution was organised in Varsana, where the ‘seva’ began simultaneously with the Banke Bihari Mandir of Vrindavan. The ‘Seva Mahotsava’ was celebrated under the direction of Shri Radhe Shyam ji Beriwala.

Seth Hargulal came to Vrindavan from Kolkata with Sant Pravar Swami Sri Krishna Yataji Maharaj. Both sants were eager to have darshan of Shri Banke Bihari, so they left Kolkata and travelled to Vrindavan. After spending time in Vrindavan, Seth Hargulal could not tolerate living in any other place, and in 1929, he settled in Vrindavan and spent the rest of his life serving Biharji.

Seth Hargulal used the wealth he had accumulated in the service of Vrindavan’s deities, especially Banke Bihari. He donated the silver swing (jhula) that is used in both Bihariji temple and Barsana’s Shriji temple.

Apart from assisting the temples to maintain the seva to the Lord, his family helped building roads in Vrindavan, providing health services and opening schools and colleges. He arranged drinking water facilities for tourists and pilgrims and was known as someone who could not stand to see anyone in need.

Beriwala family members taking darshan of Banke Bihari ji

Lala Hargula Ji Beirwala (1894-1979) was born in Beri, a small town in Haryana in 1894. From very early in his childhood the holy town of Vrindavan held a special place in his heart. After travelling to Vrindavan a several times, he finally settled in Vrindavan in 1929. Once there he found it impossible to pull himself away, and stayed there, dedicating the rest of his life to the service of Thakur Banke Bihari and the people of Vraja.