Ambaji Ashtami puja open to all devotees, not limited to Danta royal family: Gujarat HC

In a landmark ruling, the Gujarat High Court has held that the special right to perform Ashtami puja at the Ambaji temple will no longer be restricted to the Danta Maharaja and his descendants.

The court ruled that ordinary devotees will also be permitted to perform the puja. This is being seen as one of the most significant orders passed by the Gujarat High Court since the establishment of the temple.

This is not the first time the temple has been in the news for accessibility to the general public.

Gujarat Congress in 2024 had accused temple manager Pravin Goswami of ‘favouritism’ and ‘misconduct’ over allegedly allowing acquaintances to bypass queues for darshan while sidelining thousands of other devotees who waited patiently in line.

“These practices have not only caused discontent among devotees but also raised questions about the governance of religious sites,” Congress spokesperson Hemang Raval had said.

He said that there were multiple complaints against Goswami regarding his treatment of Brahmins visiting the temple for pooja rituals.

“Accusations point to his use of derogatory language, adding to a growing perception of administrative failure within the temple’s management,” he added.

He said that earlier locals also lodged complaints with the collector of Banaskantha alleging favouritism, which have been overlooked.

(with inputs from syndicated feed)