AYODHYA (UP), Jan 1: The temple cities of Ayodhya and Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh experienced an extraordinary influx of devotees on the first day of the New Year.
The Ram temple at Ayodhya was consecrated on January 22 of the previous year.
Local administration estimates indicate that over two lakh devotees had already established camps in Ayodhya on New Year’s Eve. On Wednesday morning, around three lakh more individuals arrived to pay their respects to the deity Ram Lalla.
The enthusiasm of the devotees was evident as they queued for ‘darshan’ of the idol that was revealed at sunrise on the first day of the year.
In Varanasi, a large throng of devotees flocked to the sacred grounds of Baba Shri Kashi Vishwanath temple starting from 3 am on Wednesday. The influx persisted until late evening as part of the New Year festivities.
The temple administration reported that by 4 pm, an impressive 3.5 lakh devotees had visited the temple to pray and receive the blessings of Baba Shri Kashi Vishwanath.
Ram Temple Trust general secretary Champat Rai stated that the entire world is celebrating the New Year according to the Gregorian calendar. He noted that the winter season combined with a holiday break contributed to the significant number of visitors.
With schools, courts, and agricultural activities on hold for the season, he remarked, “people frequently take vacations during this time.”
“Ayodhya is increasingly becoming a preferred destination for pilgrims, taking precedence over more traditional tourist spots like Goa, Nainital, Shimla, or Mussoorie,” Rai said.
To manage the large crowds, the Ayodhya administration segmented the city into various sectors and zones. Heavy police presence was established to oversee the throngs of visitors. Traffic restrictions were enforced, and continuous vehicle inspections took place, as reported by local officials.
The surge in the number of devotees began a day earlier. By Tuesday evening, over two lakh pilgrims had already completed ‘darshan.’ Hotels, dharamshalas, and homestays were all fully booked as both local and outstation visitors flocked to the town.
Similar scenes were seen at the Hanumangarhi temple, where crowds remained steady from the early morning ‘aarti’ until the evening ‘shayan aarti.’
To accommodate the substantial flow of visitors, the administration set up 10 additional visitor galleries along the Ram Janmabhoomi path, doubling the number of darshan lines from 10 to 20. Special security measures were also implemented to ensure the safety of the devotees.
Ayodhya Deputy Superintendent of Police Ashutosh Tiwari mentioned that the city has been organized into seven security sectors and 24 zones, with senior officers assigned to each area. Drone cameras were utilized to monitor crowded spots, and traffic movement was strictly controlled to prevent congestion and ensure public safety.
In Varanasi, CEO of Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Vishwa Bhushan Mishra, reported a consistent rise in visitors since December 28. Anticipating the significant influx for New Year, temple authorities had taken steps to manage the situation effectively.
“The crowd began gathering early in the morning and by 4 pm, we had already welcomed 3.5 lakh devotees. The numbers keep climbing, and devotees are still in line for darshan,” Mishra stated.
To handle the overwhelming crowd, temple officials implemented certain restrictions. Baba’s “touch darshan” was prohibited on both December 31 and January 1, and entry into the sanctum sanctorum was limited while vehicles were banned from Maidagin to Godaulia road to facilitate smooth movement of pilgrims.
To ensure public safety and prevent any incidents, district police remained on high alert. DCP Kashi Zone, Gaurav Bansal, assured that extensive security measures were in place, with five sectors and 45 duty points established within the Kashi Vishwanath temple complex.
Security personnel were also deployed at critical temples and ghats throughout the city, including the Baba Kaal Bhairav temple and Sankat Mochan temple, with 11 and 8 duty points respectively established.
Special forces, including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Water Police, and Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC), had been stationed at various ghats in anticipation of a large crowd for the New Year celebrations. In case of emergencies, 12 quick response teams (QRTs) are on standby.
The security arrangements and crowd control measures illustrate the temple’s commitment to providing a safe and peaceful experience for visitors to the Kashi Vishwanath temple during this special occasion, Bansal concluded. (PTI)
