Lucknow, 29 March: The Ayodhya administration is preparing for the greatest ever crowd management effort on Ram Navami, which is celebrated on April 17. Officials anticipate a crowd of around 50 lakh pilgrims on this day.
Director General of Police (DGP) Prashant Kumar and Chief Secretary DS Mishra are closely monitoring preparations for Ram Navami and the nine-day ‘Ram Janamotsav’ that begins on April 9 and ends on April 17.
The chief secretary and DGP, who also visited Ram Janmabhoomi and assessed security measures at the temple complex, have ordered authorities to make enough provisions for pilgrims to make their visit to Ram temple more pleasant. Ram Navami, the festival commemorating Lord Ram’s birth, will fall on the ninth day of ‘Chaitra Navratri’.
Officials said they are working on a war footing to ensure the safety and comfort of devotees on Ram Navami. However, it is difficult to estimate the exact number of expected devotees, and many teams are working on it.
Officials are considering several entry and exits for devotees to prevent a stampede-like situation. Given the sweltering weather, water and mats on the open floors are also being provided to protect devotees from heat stroke.
Officials are also guaranteeing the availability and consistent supply of basics such as milk, sugar, tea, food grains, and vegetables at dharamshalas, temples, tent cities, and hotels where pilgrims will stay.
In preparation for Ram Navami, the chief minister urged for the provision of electric buses for devotees in partnership with the Transport Corporation. Furthermore, he emphasized the need of preserving municipal cleanliness, providing drinking water, and mitigating heat for public comfort, emphasizing the need for collaboration with the Urban Development Department in these efforts.
He instructed that procedures be made to guarantee that devotees do not have to trek more than two and a half kilometers. Furthermore, arrangements should be made to store their shoes and slippers in places such as Tulsi Udyan. To make it easier for devotees to visit, he directed authorities to work with members of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra. He stressed that at this time, the temple doors should only be closed for specific worship events.
