Over 11.69L devotees pay obeisance at Kashi Vishwanath on Maha Shivaratri

Varanasi: Varanasi witnessed a massive influx of devotees on the auspicious occasion of Maha Shivaratri, with over 11.69 lakh worshippers paying their respects at the sacred Kashi Vishwanath temple, official sources said here on Thursday.

Sources said that following the directives of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the local administration ensured comprehensive security arrangements, smooth crowd management, and essential facilities for the devotees.

Under the supervision of the Kashi Vishwanath temple administration, systematic arrangements were made to facilitate a seamless darshan experience. From the early hours of Wednesday morning, long queues of devotees gathered at the temple premises, eager to perform the sacred rituals.

Devotees offered their prayers and conducted the traditional 'Jalabhishek' with great devotion. The spiritual fervor transformed Varanasi into a sea of faith, with a continuous stream of visitors thronging the holy city.

The influx of devotees remained uninterrupted throughout Maha Shivaratri. By morning itself, lakhs had already completed their darshan, and as the day progressed, the numbers only swelled further.

Adding to the grandeur of the celebrations, the Yogi government arranged a special aerial flower shower over Kashi on Wednesday, honouring the deep religious sentiments of devotees. Helicopters showered flowers over Shri Kashi Vishwanath Dham and the Ganga ghats, filling the air with a divine ambiance.

The spectacular floral tribute elevated the spiritual enthusiasm of the devotees, making this Maha Shivaratri a truly memorable event in the city of Lord Shiva.