(): Elaborate security arrangements have been made on third Monday of the auspicious month of Shrawan at one of the dwadasa jyotirlingas Kashi Vishwanath Temple (KVT).The security was tightened further in view of survey of Gyanvapi campus by the team of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) as per the court order. The police personnel led by Additional Police Commissioner (Crime) Santosh Singh conducted a march between Godowlia and Bansphatak to bring confidence among the devotees. Despite this, lakhs of devotees offered prayers at the temple amidst tight security arrangements. To maintain peace, the police march was also attended by several other senior officers including Deputy Commissioner of Police (Kashi Zone) Ram Sevak Gautam and Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Kashi Zone) Chandrakant Meena. Right from the wee hours after Mangla aarti, the devotees started thronging the temple and there were continuous lines of devotees on both sides of the temple including Maidagin and Godowlia as well as Lalita Ghat (Ganga Dwar). As thousands of kanwariyas arrived here carrying the sacred Gangajal from Sangam in Prayagraj walking about 125 kms, the echoes of traditional slogan ‘Har Har  Mahadev’, along with ‘Bol Bom’ rented in the air throughout the day.For the conveniences of the devotees, at several places big LED screens were installed to display the activities of garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum) as the devotees were not allowed to touch the Shivling and they offered jalabhishek through big metal structures from outside the garbhagriha.

Tight security was also made at several main Ganga ghats especially Dashaswamedh and adjoining ghats as in the recent days, the water level of the river has increased sharply, entering the Maa Sheela Mata and other temples.