Kashi indulges in Basant Panchami celebrations

Varanasi: Amidst the influx of Maha Kumbh pilgrims, celebrations of Basant Panchami, observed as Saraswati Puja, started in the city with the arrival of idols in Puja Pandals on Sunday.
While the officials focused on managing the crowd, a large number of social, voluntary, and political organisations started coming forward to ensure availability of meals and other facilities to pilgrims.
The city, which was witnessing a massive influx of Maha Kumbh pilgrims since Jan 26 to offer prayers at Kashi Vishwanath temple, saw the size of queues in the temple vicinity reducing. Compared to the post-Mauni Amavasya bath on Jan 29, the crowd on highways was also low. The maximum size of the queue from the Kashi Vishwanath Dham entrance point was reaching up to Godowlia and Chowk. Pilgrims, who had to spend up to six hours in queues, succeeded in offering prayers at KV temple in two hours.
Reduction in the crowd allowed the officials to focus on other arrangements, like taking action against auto and e-rickshaw drivers indulging in overpricing and boats violating guidelines. River police ensured legal action against 13 boats and the seizure of one.
Assistant Regional Transport Officer (enforcement) Sudhanshu Ranjan, along with officials and traffic police, launched a massive drive against auto and e-rickshaw drivers overcharging from passengers. On detection of overpricing, 22 three-wheelers were seized and 35 were challaned.
The public representatives and officials took stock of the arrangements at all 79 holding areas established in the district with the capacity to accommodate 7,852 vehicles and 346 toilets. Distribution of food packets among the pilgrims and drivers of vehicles was also ensured in these areas.
The trend at railway stations and highways showed that the pilgrims from different parts of the country were heading to Prayagraj for the Basant Panchami bath on Monday. In view of the possibility of a revival of a major influx of pilgrims from Prayagraj after Monday afternoon, the officials said that all arrangements for traffic and crowd regulation are in place till Feb 5. The officials also maintained vigil on Saraswati Puja Pandals, where installation of idols started from Saturday night.