Varanasi (The Hawk): The district administration and the management of the Kashi Vishwanath temple have limited "Sparsh darshan" (when devotees are allowed to touch the Shivling) from December 31 to January 2, temple authorities said, anticipating a huge influx of worshippers on New Year.
The decision was made, according to Kashi Vishwanath temple officials, in order to manage the large number of devoted visitors.
Divisional Commissioner for Varanasi, Kaushal Raj Sharma, stated: ""Sparsh darshan" is prohibited from December 31 through January 2. For the same, a practise will be held on December 30." On January 1, 2022, the temple had close to seven lakh visitors, according to documents with the management of the temple.
However, this year, based on the temple's rapidly expanding popularity as a result of the refurbishment, the total number of visitors is anticipated to cross 12 lakh on New Year's Day.
Officials explained the difference between "sparsh darshan" and regular darshan (referred to as "jhanki darshan" in local parlance), saying that the former takes a little longer because devotees are allowed to perform religious offerings inside the temple's "garbh grah" (sanctum sanctorum), whereas in the latter, devotees are allowed to pass offerings to the priest from outside the "garbh grah."
Priests return the 'prasad' to the devotee after presenting the offerings to the Shivling during 'jhanki darshan'.
According to officials, "the usual darshan takes far less time, making it easy for the temple management to manage the crowd and maintain security for the New Year."
(Inputs from Agencies)