Mathura (UP), Nov 1 (PTI) Heavy security arrangements were in place on the occasion of Ahoi Ashtami, as thousands of

Mathura (UP), Nov 1 (PTI) Heavy security arrangements were in place on the occasion of Ahoi Ashtami, as thousands of

Mathura (UP), Nov 1 (PTI) Heavy security arrangements were in place on the occasion of Ahoi Ashtami, as thousands of

Mathura (UP), Nov 1 (PTI) Heavy security arrangements were in place on the occasion of Ahoi Ashtami, as thousands of people flocked to Radha Kund in Mathura on Sunday to seek blessings.

     Mathura District Magistrate Chandra Prakash Singh and Senior Superintendent of Police Shlok Kumar said the movement of heavy vehicles on all routes leading to Radha Kund were prohibited to ensure that the festival went off smoothly and without any untoward incident.

     Pandit Rameshwar Vashisth said that since the era of Lord Krishna, it has been a long-standing belief that if a childless couple bathe in the Radha Kund on Ahoi Ashtami, they will be blessed with a child.

     Driven by this faith, thousands of devotees from across the country and abroad flock to this sacred site, he added.

     According to officials, the area has been divided into four 'super zones,' 13 zones, and 31 sectors, with administrative and police personnel deployed accordingly.

     They said devotees began arriving for the ritual bath as early as midnight on Saturday, with the influx continuing until late Sunday evening.

     Barricades were also set up, and swimmers from the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) were deployed, officials said.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)