Varanasi, 30 July (HS): Yogi Adityanath, the Chief Minister

of Uttar Pradesh, paid a visit to Varanasi's famed Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple

to deliver special prayers and evaluate infrastructure. During his visit, the

Chief Minister announced a significant permanent gift to local inhabitants by

granting a full-day dedicated local access lane. The Chief Minister observed

ancient ceremonies, including Jalabhishek, to commemorate the auspicious start

of the holy Shravan month. He prayed for the peace, prosperity, and health of

the people of Uttar Pradesh and the whole nation. Massive influx of Kanwar

Yatri devotees are anticipated during the holy month. Along with the major

temple, he visited and prayed at the famed Shri Kaal Bhairav Temple, which is

known as Kashi's guardian god.

On Thursday, the first day of the month of Shravan, Uttar

Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath performed the ritualistic water-ablution

and worship at the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Prior to this, he visited the

Kotwal Baba Kalbhairav Temple in Kashi, offered prayers, and prayed for the

happiness, peace, prosperity, and well-being of the people of the state and the

country.

On the second day of his two-day visit to Varanasi, the

Chief Minister reached Baba Kalbhairav Temple from the Circuit House amid

tight security arrangements. Here, he received Baba's blessings by performing

the rituals of worship amidst chanting of Vedic mantras. The devotees present

in the temple premises and the surrounding streets welcomed him warmly with the

chanting of Har-Har Mahadev. The Chief Minister accepted the

greetings with folded hands and also inquired about the security arrangements

from the local shopkeepers. During this, he also lovingly presented a chocolate

to a child sitting at a shop and caressed him.

The Chief Minister then reached Shri Kashi Vishwanath Dham,

where he entered the sanctum sanctorum of the temple and worshipped Baba

Vishwanath with the Shodashopachar method and performed Jalabhishek of the holy

Jyotirlinga. He prayed for happiness, prosperity, peace, and public welfare of

the state and the country. Upon the Chief Minister's arrival at the temple,

devotees filled the entire complex with devotion by chanting Har Har

Mahadev.

Keeping in mind the large number of devotees expected to

gather during the month of Shravan, the Chief Minister also issued necessary

instructions to the officials present at the temple complex. He said that

visitors should not face any inconvenience during the month of Shravan. Easy

darshan, robust security arrangements, sanitation, drinking water, and other

essential facilities should be effectively ensured for the devotees, so that

all devotees can enjoy a systematic and comfortable darshan.

The officials of Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust informed

the Chief Minister that for the convenience of the devotees coming in the month

of Shravan, all necessary arrangements including drinking water, glucose, ORS,

health assistance centre, help desk and effective crowd management have been

made in the Dham. It is noteworthy that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on

Wednesday evening, the first day of his two-day visit to Varanasi, prayed for

the welfare of the people and prosperity of the state by visiting and

worshipping at the Baba Kalbhairav and Shri Kashi Vishwanath temples. Special

security arrangements were also made for the Chief Minister's visit to the

temple.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi