15-07-2025
Bade Hanumanji temple closed after floodwaters submerge deity
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Prayagraj: The rising waters of Ganga and Yamuna rivers entered the Bade Hanuman Ji Temple in the Sangam area at 2.30pm on Tuesday. Locals consider this occurrence highly auspicious, particularly as it happened on the first Tuesday of Shrawan month.
This is perhaps the first time in several decades that the floodwater entered the temple in mid-July, as it usually occurs in Aug.
Floodwater from the twin rivers inundated the road in front of the wall of the Bade Hanuman Ji corridor from all sides since Monday morning, and locals were anxiously waiting for Ganga Ji to enter the temple premises to bathe the deity, as it occurs every year. By the Tuesday morning, Ganga waters had entered the temple premises from the gates of the corridor, and by 2.30 pm, floodwater started flowing downward from the stairs of the temple.
In around an hour, water submerged the reclining deity completely.
As the water entered the premises, devotees began chanting praises to Lord Hanuman and Maa Ganga.
Head priest Mahant Balveer Giri said: "After the floodwater entered the temple, we performed aarti followed by the abhishekam of both Ganga and Lord Hanuman. Later, a small idol of Lord Hanuman was touched to the large idol and placed above the temple where all rituals would be performed until the floodwater recedes."
After performing aarti, the main gate of the temple has been closed, he added.
Meanwhile, as the news of the floodwater entering the temple spread in the city, a large number of devotees rushed to the Sangam area to have a glimpse of the sacred event.
However, the rapid water level rise in both rivers has alerted the administration. Water discharge from both rivers' barrages has contributed to the increasing levels. The water level of river Ganga at Phaphamau (at 4pm) stood at 81.74m and at Chhatnag it was recorded at 81.09m. The flood water of Yamuna too is increasing and was recorded at Naini as 81.51m.
