'Braving rain, 70 lakh participate in Govardhan Parikrama in a week

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Notwithstanding incessant rain, over 70 lakh people from across the country have paid their obeisance to Goverdhan in a week, after completing a 23-km 'parikrama' around the Goverdhan Hill, an official said today.

Chanting devotional songs, a sea of pilgrims are participating in the parikrama (circumambulation) on the occasion of Mudiya Poono fair, known as "mini Kumbh", the official said.

"So far, over 70 lakh people have performed Govardhan Parikrama and the influx of piligrims is rapidly increasing," District Magistrate Sarvagyaram Mishra said.

Ten teams are working round-the-clock to ensure that eatables served in Bhandaras, are not spurious, he said.

Mishra said, in spite of massive influx of pilgrims, cleanliness is being maintained, adding that use of polythenes has been replaced by "pattal" (leafy plates), "Dona" (leafy bowls) and "kulhad" (earthen tumblers), he added.

He said, with the ban on "Dandauti Parikrama", untoward incidents such as stampede have been prevented.

According to SSP Babloo Kumar, no untoward incident has been reported so far.

As many as 21 temporary police outposts, 24 watch towers, 72 barriers, deployment of flood PAC at the kunds and posting of four teams in plain cloth at sensitive areas have been set up on the parikrama route, Kumar said.

Show cause notices have been served on to five policemen for dereliction of duty in the fair, he concluded.

Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation has started a helicopter service for pilgrims who face problems in performing Govardhan Parikrama.

The aerial tour will be available for three days between 10 am to 6 pm today, tomorrow and Saturday, subject to weather conditions, said D K Sharma, a district tourist officer.