Varanasi: Thousands of devotees thronged Vindhyachal temple in Mirzapur and the Durga temple in Varanasi as the Shardiya Navratri began on Sunday.At the Vindhyachal shrine, long queues of pilgrims formed early in the morning, with thousands waiting before the temple doors opened for darshan following the Mangala Aarti. On the occasion, Kalash Sthapana rituals were performed at Kashi Vishwanath Dham while Durga Puja organisers began bringing idols to pandals across the city.The festive spirit was also visible in markets, where several shops, particularly automobile and home appliance showrooms, were decorated to attract customers during the auspicious nine-day period.ADG Varanasi Zone Naveen Arora, along with DIG Vindhya Range Poonam, district magistrate Pawan Kumar Gangwar and SP Aparna Rajat Kaushik, inspected the mela area on foot. They reviewed arrangements at the main entry and exit gates, darshan routes, Ganga ghats, the road leading to the railway station and barricading points at major crossings.Arora directed officials to ensure smooth darshan and prevent inconvenience to pilgrims. Police personnel deployed at duty points were instructed to remain alert, ensure the safety of women devotees and keep a close watch on suspicious persons. The traffic wing was asked to implement diversions for heavy vehicles and manage parking to prevent congestion.The DM said magistrates had been deployed across the mela area, while sanitation, drinking water and lighting arrangements had been strengthened. The SP said the area had been divided into zones and sectors, with CCTV cameras, drones and plainclothes personnel deployed for surveillance.In Varanasi, special rituals began at Kashi Vishwanath Dham with the ceremonial Kalash Sthapana. The temple trust also offered adornment materials for Goddess Vishalakshi and the Navdurga temples after their ritual presentation before Lord Vishwanath.
