The renowned Ganga Aarti at the ghats of Varanasi has been suspended for the general public until February 5th due to overwhelming crowds. Police Commissioner Mohit Agrawal urges residents not to venture out unnecessarily and to assist the pilgrims.
According to a news agency report, Sushant Mishra, President of the Ganga Sewa Nidhi, stated on Friday that the famous Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat will remain suspended for the public until February 5th. Committees organizing Aartis at Sheetla Ghat, Assi Ghat, and other ghats have also appealed to devotees to refrain from visiting until February 5th.
Thousands returning from the Prayagraj Mahakumbh are stranded at Varanasi Cantt and Banaras railway stations. Due to the exceptional crowd, many missed their trains, creating chaos at the stations. Cancellations of some trains have also left hundreds stuck at the stations.
Bobby Maya Limbu, from Sonikpur, Assam, shared how she and her group visited Varanasi from Prayagraj on January 26th after bathing at Sangam Ghat but couldn't catch their train due to the rush.
Dinath from Gaya district, with his wife and children, has been stuck in Banaras for two days. Overwhelmed by crowds and suffocation, they had to disembark the train, now staying at a shelter near the platform.
Rajat Singh, the shelter manager, explained this facility was specifically made for Kumbh visitors, providing one-night stays but without meals.
The Cantt ACP reported that the number of devotees in Kashi has skyrocketed post-Mauni Amavasya, with security forces patrolling railway stations constantly. They have urged pilgrims to postpone their visit to Varanasi for a few days to allow crowd easing and smoother arrangements.
