Ayodhya: Over 5 lakh devotees to take holy dip on Kartik Poornima

Devotees will take the dip in Sarayu in Ram ki Paidi, Naya Ghat and adjoining areas

Sarayu reuters Hindu devotees pray on the banks of Sarayu river in Ayodhya | Reuters

Lakhs of devotees are thronging Ayodhya for taking a dip in the River Sarayu on Kartik Poornima on Tuesday, the first major congregation of devotees in the town after the historic judgement in the Ayodhya case.

The Supreme Court on Saturday paved the way for the construction of a Ram Temple at the disputed site at Ayodhya, while directing the Centre to allot a 5-acre plot to the Sunni Waqf Board for building a mosque.

Devotees will take the dip in Sarayu in Ram ki Paidi and Naya Ghat and adjoining areas, officials said.

"Over 5 lakh devotees are likely to take a dip on the occasion of Kartik Poornima in Ayodhya. On normal days, around 8,000 visitors visit Ram Janmabhoomi for darshan. On festive occasion, the number crosses 50,000.Now, since the judgement has come on Ram Janmabhoomi, the number of visitors may increase as well," Ayodhya District Magistrate Anuj Kumar Jha told PTI.

He said the situation is absolutely normal around the Ram Janmabhoomi area.

"We have taken all precautionary steps to ensure security, and also to make sure that devotees do not face problems, and have a safe and hassle-free darshan. Posting of police officials and magistrates have been done keeping this in mind," he said.

For the convenience of visitors coming to Ayodhya, various health, sanitation and drinking water facilities among others have been put in place.

Water tankers have been installed around 18 places, 20 medical camps with ambulance are ready besides 30 mobile toilets.

Deputy director, information, Ayodhya division, Murlidhar Singh said, "The bathing in Sarayu river will commence at 4.00pm on Monday, and will continue till Tuesday evening, since as per the Hindu calendar, Poornima will begin on Monday evening."

Elaborating on the significance of Kartik Poornima, Prayagraj-based convener of organisations Ram Naam Bank and Ram Sewa Trust Ashutosh Varshney told PTI, "The full moon day during the month of Kartik is known as Kartik Poornima. It is also known as Dev Deepawali—the Deepawali celebrated by gods. This Dev Deepawali comes 15 days after Deepawali celebrated by us on Amavasya day.”

"Earthen lamps are lit at all temples as well as at the bank of River Ganga on the day of Kartik Poornima," he said.

"This Kartik Poornima holds special significance as it comes days after the Supreme Court gave its verdict in the Ayodhya dispute case," he said.

Sushil Kashyap, a resident of Gonda, who arrived in Ayodhya on Monday morning along with his family, said, "This dip is special for me as it comes days after the Supreme Court gave its verdict in the Ayodhya case. Every year, at least one member of our family comes to participate in Kartik Poornima festivities in Ayodhya, and take dip in the holy Sarayu," he added.

Mitthulal, a resident of neighbouring Barabanki district, who arrived in Ayodhya along with his grandsons, said, "We will try to finish our bathing at the earliest, and then offer prayers and pay obeisance to Ram Lalla, and subsequently visit other temples including Hanumangarhi."

According to Sandeep Singh, a manager at a hotel in Ayodhya, the Kartik Poornima Snaan in River Sarayu is quite popular among people from neighbouring districts, who flock the temple town on this occasion.