Ayodhya, Feb 2 (PTI) – The sacred city of Ayodhya saw an extraordinary surge of devotees on the occasion of Basant Panchami, with official estimates suggesting a crowd exceeding 15 lakh pilgrims. Authorities anticipate a sustained influx of visitors until the conclusion of the Kumbh Mela on February 28.
With religious fervor at its peak, thousands continue to arrive to take a holy dip in the Saryu River and offer prayers at Hanumangarhi and the Ram Temple. The ongoing arrival of devotees returning from the Prayagraj Kumbh has further intensified the crowd pressure, prompting heightened security measures and traffic diversions to ensure smooth movement.
High-Level Inspections and Crowd Management
In light of the swelling numbers, Commissioner Gaurav Dayal and IG Praveen Kumar conducted an on-ground inspection at Janmabhoomi Path and the Pilgrim Facilitation Center of Ram Temple to assess and enhance arrangements.To streamline temple visits, authorities have implemented a regulated entry system within the sanctum sanctorum, which has limited capacity. Key measures include:
- Setting up over seven queue lines to manage the massive footfall.
- Extending visiting hours for devotees.
- Shortening the duration of aarti to accommodate more visitors.
Temple Sees 3.5 Lakh Devotees Daily
Temple authorities estimate that around 3.5 lakh pilgrims are offering prayers at the Ram Temple daily. Commissioner Dayal assured that continuous efforts are underway to ensure an uninterrupted flow, enabling devotees to glimpse Ram Lalla without long delays.With the religious momentum expected to continue through February, Ayodhya remains the epicenter of devotion, witnessing an unprecedented gathering of worshippers.
