Last Monday of Shrawan: 1.25L devotees offer prayers at KVT

Varanasi: On the last Monday of holy month of Shrawan thousands of devotees and pilgrims from different parts of country offered Jalabhishek at Kashi Vishwanath temple and other prominent temples of Lord Shiva.
Shiv Sena activists were arrested while making bid to carry out procession for offering Jalabhishek at Shringar Gauri on last Monday.
On the first, second and third Mondays of the current Shrawan month from 47,000 to 65,000 devotees had entered KVT for offering Jalabhishek. But, on the last Monday of the auspicious month the size of queues, which took place in barricaded areas towards Maidagin and Godowlia via Dashaswamedh from Chhattadwar entry point had stretched long since Sunday late night, did not reduce till late afternoon. According to KVT administration, around 1.25 lakh had reached the temple by Monday night.
Though the Covid-19 protocol was effective, it was flouted at many places like at Dashaswamedh Ghat where people were thronging for taking dip in river Ganga and collecting water for offering Jalabhishek. Men in khaki could be found exercising hard to ensure social distancing by the devotees queued up for entering KVT. Kanwar Yatras were banned in this Shrawan month but large number of saffron clad devotees were evident chanting slogans.
Maintaining their tradition of offering Jalabhishek at Shringar Gauri in Gyanvapi premises Shiv Sena activists led by Ajay Chaubey tried to take out their procession. But, heavy police force led by ACP Dashaswamedh Awadhesh Pandey foiled their bid at Girjaghar crossing and sent them back to their places.
Heavy rush of devotees also remained visible at other prominent temples of Lord Shiva including Markandeya Mahadeo in Kaithi, Gauri Kedareshwar, Tilbhandeshwar, Jageshwar, Mrityunjaya Mahadeo, Kardmeshwar and Rameshwar Mahadeo temples.