Don't touch: Kashi Vishwanath management suspends 'sparsh darshan' ahead of New Year

Amid covid scare, Kashi Vishwanath temple management has decided to suspend the 'Sparsh darshan'. The devotees will not be allowed to enter the sanctum sanctorum and present their offerings besides touching the Shivling for three days i.e from Dec. 31 to Jan. 2.

Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh) : Expecting a huge inflow of devotees on New Year, the district administration along with the management of Kashi Vishwanath temple has suspended 'Sparsh darshan' (when devotees are allowed to touch the Shivling) from December 31 to January 2, temple officials said.

Officials of the Kashi Vishwanath temple added that the decision has been taken to manage the heavy turnout of devotees. The temple saw a footfall of 7 lakh devotees on Jan. 1, 2022. Kaushal Raj Sharma, Divisional Commissioner, Varanasi, said, "'Sparsh darshan' has been restricted between Dec. 31 and Jan. 2, 2022."

"We would be carrying out a rehearsal for the conduct of the devotees and worship process on Dec. 30. "As per our records, we received seven lakh devotees during last year on New Year day. This year, going by the fast-growing popularity of the temple due to the facelift, the total number of visitors is expected to cross the 12-lakh mark on New Year," another temple official said.

Explaining the difference between 'sparsh darshan' and regular darshan (called 'jhanki darshan' in local parlance), officials said that the former is a little time-taking as the devotees are allowed to enter into the 'garbh grah', the sanctum sanctorum of the temple.

Upon entering, the devotees will handover the religious offerings whereas in the latter, the devotees are allowed to pass on the offerings to the priest from outside the 'garbh grah'. In 'jhanki darshan', priests present the offerings to the Shivling and return the 'prasad' to the devotee.

"The regular darshan is far less time consuming and hence, would make it easy for the temple management to manage the crowd and ensure security on the New Year," said officials. (with Agency inputs)