Officials review preps for mass wedding
Divisional commissioner S Rajalingam
, along with the DCP of Kashi and departmental officers, conducted a surprise inspection of Sankuldhara Pond in Khojwa on Friday to reviewe the preparations for the mass wedding to be held on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya on April 30.
The mass wedding will feature a procession with horse-drawn carriages. During the event, altars will be set up around the pond along with a main stage. Additionally, arrangements for food and parking for the families of the brides and grooms will also be made.
The officials took stock of cleanliness, parking, road and alley repairs, street lighting, pond cleaning, and security arrangements. Officials including ADM city Alok Verma, additional municipal commissioner Savita Yadav, deputy director of tourism RK Rawat, social welfare officer, and officials from the waterworks and police department were accompanied the senior officials. tnn
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
13-07-2025
- Time of India
Pilgrims flood Kashi for Shrawan 1st Mon; long queues at KV Temple for early entry
Varanasi: A huge congregation of pilgrims and gathered in Kashi a day ahead to offer 'jalabhishek' at Kashi Vishwanath Temple on the first Monday of Shravan. The barricaded area in the vicinity of Kashi Vishwanath Dham was occupied by pilgrims by Sunday evening to ensure early entry into the temple. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Apart from enforcing traffic diversions and crowd regulation exercises, officials ensured activation of all kanwariyas camps. District administration announced closing of schools up to class 12 on Monday when Yadav Bandhus will take out their traditional jalabhishek procession. Arrangements for crowd management at all other temples of Lord Shiva were also completed. Divisional commissioner S Rajalingam said all preparations to manage crowd in and around Kashi Vishwanath Dham were completed. Necessary arrangements were made for crowd management also at other prominent temples of Lord Shiva in Varanasi, Jaunpur, Ghazipur, and Chandauli. Police commissioner Mohit Agrawal said police and paramilitary forces deployed at Kashi Vishwanath Dham, other temples, roads and highways were asked to be vigilant and ensure foolproof security by utilising CCTV network and drone cameras and also behave properly with devotees. In view of increased water level in Ganga, extra alertness is being maintained at ghats by roping in NDRF as well. Chief executive officer of Kashi Vishwanath Dham, Vishwa Bhushan Mishra, said kanwariyas and pilgrims would gain entry through Gate-4, Nandu Feria, Silko, Dhundhiraj and Saraswati Phatak entry points. As Ganga is flooded, entry through Ganga Dwar will not be possible. Temple officials have appealed to devotees to join queues to offer prayers and not be misled by any touts for entry without joining the queue. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Considering last year's maximum crowd, temple trust advised devotees not to join the queue on an empty stomach. The temple also requested them to avoid bringing bags, mobiles, pens, metal items, etc. In view of the heavy crowd, counters to deposit personal items at the dham will not be operational. Medical teams led by doctors will be stationed at five locations for devotees, while six lost and found centres have been operationalised on temple premises, Shankaracharya Chowk, Gate-1 (Ganga Exit Gate), Gate-2 (Saraswati Phatak), Gate-4 (Main Entry Route) and Lalita Ghat to assist people separated from their families in the crowd.
Time of India
06-07-2025
- Time of India
Blanket ban on VIP ‘darshan' at KV Temple during Shrawan
Varanasi: As part of preparation for management of huge crowd comprising kanwariyas and pilgrims, Kashi Vishwanath Temple authorities have decided to suspend VIP 'darshan' facility and entry of dignitaries with special protocol throughout the month of Shrawan, from Jul 11 to Aug 9. The entry points too may be reduced from six to five if the Ganga floods the ghat steps used for reaching Ganga Dwar. Speaking to TOI on Sunday, divisional Commissioner S Rajalingam said all arrangements for crowd regulation and facilitation of pilgrims and kanwariyas had been finalised. "Considering possibility of heavy crowding, as witnessed during Shrawan months in past years and Maha Kumbh this year, it has been decided that there would be no VIP and special protocol 'darshan' facility for the entire month. Arrangements are being made considering all possible challenges, including the rise in level of the Ganga. " Regarding arrangements at Kashi Vishwanath Temple, its administration said kanwariyas and pilgrims will be given entry through Gate-4, Nandu Feria, Silko, Dhundiraj and Saraswati Phatak entry points. Ganga Dwar entry point will also be used, but if Ganga level rises and interconnectivity of ghats ends, entry through Lalita Ghat will be restricted temporarily. The four Mondays in the Shrawan month will fall on Jul 14, 21, 28, and Aug 4, when the deity will be adorned with special 'shringar'. Jhula Shringar will occur on concluding day of Shrawan on Aug 9. Temple officials have appealed to devotees to join queues for visits and not fall for any touts. Considering last year's huge crowd, the temple trust advised devotees not to join the queue on an empty stomach, as it could affect their health. The temple also requested them to avoid bringing bags, mobiles, pens, metal items, etc, as these are not allowed inside, so they should leave these items at home or hotel/lodge. Due to the large crowd, free baggage counters at the dham will not be operational. Medical teams led by doctors will be stationed at five locations for devotees visiting the dham, with two ambulances, including one equipped with advanced life support, also stationed for any emergencies. Six lost and found centres will be operational on the temple premises, Shankaracharya Chowk, Gate-1 (Ganga Exit Gate), Gate-2 (Saraswati Phatak), Gate-4 (Main Entry Route) and Lalita Ghat to assist people separated from their families in the crowd. Security personnel and support staff will also be deployed. A centralised public information system and local public address systems will be in place across the dham. A free e-rickshaw service will be provided from Godowlia to Maidagin for the elderly, disabled and children. Glucose/ORS solutions, light refreshments, biscuits, candies, chocolates, etc, will be distributed periodically for the benefit of elderly and children. Drinking water counters and jaggery will be in adequate supply. With support of Smart City, digital viewing of Lord Vishwanath's aarti and adornments will be available at various locations in the dham complex and city. As in previous years, online viewing will be available for those unable to visit. Online streaming of the deity's viewings will also be available on the official YouTube channel of Kashi Vishwanath Temple.
Time of India
24-06-2025
- Time of India
Puri Rath Yatra 2025: Indian Railways announces 365 special trains for devotees
Indian Railways has announced to run 365 special trains for devotees wishing to to be a part of the revered annual Rath Yatra festival in Puri, Odisha. The preparations for the Puri Rath Yatra are in full swing and to manage the surge of pilgrims, the railways has decided to run these special trains. The trains will connect the holy city of Puri with all prime states including West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, and Jharkhand, among others. The main motive behind this move is to accommodate thousands and lakhs of devotees who will visit the city to be a part of the grand procession of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra. These special trains will operate under the East Coast Railway (ECoR) zone. State Government initiatives In addition, the Odisha government has inaugurated many other initiatives to ensure smooth run of the nine-day festival. One of the prime features include the INR 5 lakh insurance cover for each registered devotee within Puri municipality along with those who participated in earlier rituals like the Chandan Yatra. This welfare scheme is part of a broader package to improve safety and comfort of the pilgrims. The government is expecting a crowd of more than five lakh devotees. The state is planning to deploy 70 police platoons, anti-terrorist squads and bomb disposal teams. There will also be special tactical units and drones for aerial surveillance. All the major regions will have AI-powered CCTV cameras and police have also introduced community outreach programs in local neighborhoods (sahis) to help with the traffic. When it comes to healthcare, more than 300 doctors and emergency health teams will be stationed at all strategic points in and around the temple town. Temporary hospitals, ambulances, and mobile medical units will ensure rapid response during any emergencies. About the revered chariot The process of chariot construction began in April on the auspicious day of Akshaya Tritiya. Rare trees such as phassi and dhausa were used to build chariots, and by the start of June, more than 80% of the work was completed. The chariots—Nandighosa, Taladhwaja, and Darpadalana—are built every year by temple carpenters. It is a centuries-old ritual. Date of the event The main event, Rath Yatra will start on June 27, 2025. It is the day when all the deities will be taken out from the Jagannath Temple and will be carried to the Gundicha Temple, which is about 3 km away. With the introduction of new special trains, the railways hope to efficiently manage the event by making it widely accessible. One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
