The holy city of Ayodhya saw an extraordinary influx of devotees on Basant Panchami, with official estimates placing the crowd at a staggering 15 lakh. As the Kumbh Mela continues until February 28, authorities expect the influx to remain steady, with large numbers of pilgrims arriving daily to partake in the religious festivities.
Continuous Stream of Pilgrims and Tightened Security
The festival celebrations, which began with Basant Panchami on Sunday, will extend into Monday. A continuous stream of devotees is expected to arrive to take the sacred dip in the Saryu River, offer prayers at the revered Hanumangarhi temple, and visit the iconic Ram Temple.
In addition to the festival crowd, a steady flow of pilgrims returning from the Prayagraj Kumbh has further intensified the congregation. With such a massive turnout, local authorities have ramped up security and implemented traffic diversions to ensure smooth movement and prevent overcrowding.
Inspection of Arrangements by Officials
To assess the situation, Commissioner Gaurav Dayal and IG Praveen Kumar conducted an on-site inspection of the Janmabhoomi Path and the Pilgrim Facilitation Center near the Ram Temple. During their visit, they reviewed the arrangements to manage the massive footfall of devotees, including the entry systems at key religious spots.
Regulated Temple Entry and Extended Visiting Hours
With the large number of visitors, temple authorities have introduced a regulated entry system at the Ram Temple, particularly for the sanctum sanctorum, which has limited capacity. To manage the crowd, authorities have set up seven queue lines and extended the temple’s visiting hours. To accommodate even more devotees, the duration of the daily aarti has been shortened.
Assurance of Uninterrupted Devotee Flow
Commissioner Dayal reassured the public that every effort is being made to ensure a smooth and uninterrupted flow of devotees, allowing them to get a glimpse of Ram Lalla and continue their spiritual journey without delays. Temple authorities estimate that around 3.5 lakh devotees are visiting the temple each day, with the numbers expected to increase in the coming weeks.
As the Kumbh Mela and the ongoing religious festivities continue, Ayodhya remains a focal point of spiritual fervor and devotion, with authorities working tirelessly to ensure a seamless experience for the millions of pilgrims arriving to celebrate and seek blessings.
