Devotees express discontent over limited darshan time

| | Varanasi
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Devotees express discontent over limited darshan time

Wednesday, 29 January 2025 | Biswajeet Banerjee | Varanasi

The Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple witnessed an unprecedented footfall of over 1.1 million devotees on Monday, as the Maha Kumbh reverse flow drove massive crowds to seek blessings.

While the temple administration celebrated the record-breaking turnout, many pilgrims expressed disappointment over being rushed during their darshan.

Devotees who had waited for up to eight hours in serpentine queues were granted only a fleeting glimpse of Lord Shiva. “I stood in line for nearly eight hours, but when my turn came, I was pushed forward within seconds. I couldn’t even complete my prayers,” said 65-year-old Ram Bhajan Singh, who had traveled from Prayagraj.

Another devotee, Suman Devi from Kanpur, echoed similar frustrations. “We come with so much devotion, but we barely get a moment to pray or offer our puja properly. It felt rushed,” she said.

In response to the massive crowds, the temple remained open until 1 a.m. on Monday and reopened at 2:15 a.m. on Tuesday, offering darshan for 22 hours straight. Divisional Commissioner Kaushal Raj Sharma said, “The extended hours were necessary to accommodate the surge of devotees.  Our priority is to ensure that everyone gets an opportunity to seek blessings.” The Mangala Aarti commenced at 2:45 a.m. on Tuesday, followed by regular darshan, which continued late into the night. Residents Struggle Amid Road Closures The massive influx of pilgrims led to significant disruptions in Varanasi’s daily life.

For the first time, the route from Dashashwamedh Ghat to Godowlia was completely shut down on Monday afternoon to manage the crowd. However, the closure inconvenienced residents.

“It was chaotic. Roads were completely blocked, and it became impossible to commute. We understand the devotion of the pilgrims, but the administration must ensure better planning,” said Nikhil Mishra, a shopkeeper in the Godowlia area.

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