Pilgrims make beeline for Ayodhya for holy dip on Kartik Poornima

Lakhs of devotees are thronging the town for taking a dip in the River Saryu on Kartik Poornima on Tuesday, the first major congregation of devotees here after the historic judgement in the Ayodhya case.

The Supreme Court on Saturday paved the way for the construction of a Ram Temple at the disputed site at Ayodhya, while directing the Centre to allot a 5-acre plot to the Sunni Waqf Board for building a mosque.

Devotees will take the dip in Saryu in Ram ki Paidi and Naya Ghat and adjoining areas, officials said.

"Over five lakh devotees are likely to take a dip on the occasion of Kartik Poornima in Ayodhya. On normal days, around 8,000 visitors visit Ramjanmabhoomi for darshan. On festive occasion, the number crosses 50,000.Now, since the judgement has come on Ramjanmabhoomi, the number of visitors may increase as well," Ayodhya District Magistrate Anuj Kumar Jha told PTI.

He said the situation is absolutely normal around the Ramjanmabhoomi area.

"We have taken all precautionary steps to ensure security, and also to make sure that devotees do not face problem, and have a safe and hassle-free darshan.Posting of police officials and magistrates have been done keeping this in mind," he said
Deputy Director, Information, Ayodhya division, Murlidhar Singh said, "The bathing in Saryu river will commence at 4.00 pm on Monday, and will continue till Tuesday evening, since as per the Hindu calendar Poornima will begin on Monday evening."
"Every year, at least one member of our family comes to participate in Kartik Poornima festivities in Ayodhya, and take dip in the holy Saryu," he added
Mitthulal, a resident of neighbouring Barabanki district, who arrived here along with his grandsons, said, "We will try to finish our bathing at the earliest, and then offer prayers and pay obeisance to Ram Lalla, and subsequently visit other temples including Hanumangarhi."