Rehan Qayoom Mir
Srinagar, Aug 30: In a first, the Shankaracharya temple here in Srinagar in the banks of world famous Dal Lake has recorded the footfall of around 73,000 devotees on the eve of Raksha Bandhan, the festival that was celebrated with religious fervor across Jammu & Kashmir on Wednesday.
The special prayers were held at the temple on the festival today where a huge rush of devotees was witnessed at 4:00 AM in the morning.
Devotees from different parts of the country were seen waiting in long queues at Srinagar’s famous Shankaracharya Temple.
“I am very happy to be here on Raksha Bandhan. The administration here is very helpful as they had made elaborate arrangements for the devotees today at the temple. The transportation facility was also made available for us,” said Sushama Devi, a devotee from Uttar Pradesh.
“Every year, I visit Kashmir for this festival, but this year, the devotees have come in huge numbers,” said Pandit Arun Kumar from Assam.
“I sell jewellery items here and I visit the temple every year. I always find peace whenever I visit Shankaracharya temple here,” said Manoj, another devotee.
J L Singh, a head preacher and a caretaker at Shankarachariya temple said that the rush of devotees has been increasing with each passing year, but for the first time, the number of devotees visiting the temple has surpassed the previous figures.
He said nearly 73,000 devotees visited the temple to attend the special prayers from 4:00 Am till late evening hours today.
“Adequate arrangements were put in place by the administration,” he said.
Pertinently, Raksha Bandhan is a popular and traditionally Hindu annual rite or ceremony that is central to a festival of the same name celebrated in South Asia. It is also celebrated in other parts of the world significantly influenced by Hindu culture. (KNO)
