Summary:
As the temple remained open on Monday night, officials estimated over 10 lakh pilgrims at Kashi Vishwanath temple premises by Tuesday night. SSP Anand Kulkarni said, “With crowds swelling, temple administration decided to keep temple open and allow only jhanki darshan. It ensured entry of over six lakh pilgrims. Varanasi: In a historic first, the Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust opened the temple’s sanctum sanctorum for devotees an hour after ‘Shayan Aarti’ on Sunday night, a day before Mahashivratri. The decision was taken as lakhs of pilgrims had reached Kashi from Pragyaraj Kumbh and assembled in and around the temple to perform mahashivratri rituals..