Mathura village signboard switched after priest's renaming idea goes viral

India Dec 05, 2025

A village signboard on the busy Delhi-Agra highway in Mathura was changed from "Akbarpur" to "Raghuwarpur," catching attention after a video of the switch spread online.
The move seems tied to Dhirendra Krishna Shastri, head priest of Bageshwar Dham, who recently suggested the new name during the concluding address of his padyatra from Delhi to Vrindavan in November.

Police step in as controversy grows

Shastri's suggestion was meant for the government, not as a public order, police clarified.
Still, someone used black paint to cover up "Akbarpur" on the official tourism sign.
Authorities are now investigating who made the change and have promised legal action.
Meanwhile, efforts are underway to restore the original sign.