Summary:
The district administration had reserved time between 7 am and 11 am for the shahi darshan by the akharas. Naga sadhus were carrying their weapons, besides giant flags and idol of Lord Dattatreya in decorated palanquin in the procession. Vehicular movement on the procession routes was banned and security personnel were seen struggling to keep the crowd of pilgrims and devotees away from the processions.Naga sadhus associated with various akharas, especially the seven Shaiv Akharas, started congregating in Kashi after attending the Kumbh Mela of Allahabad. Senior officers, including district magistrate Surendra Singh and SSP Anand Kulkarni scouted the processions along with heavy police force. He added that now Naga sadhus will stay in the math till the festival of Holi when they will play Masan Holi with ashes of pyres at cremation ground in Varanasi and later start leaving Kashi for their places..