Vrindavan: Vrindavan witnessed a massive influx of devotees on Sunday as the ongoing Kartik month coincided with the weekly holiday, drawing large crowds to the city’s prominent temples. A significant number of pilgrims began arriving at the Shri Banke Bihari Temple early in the morning, leading to long queues outside the shrine and heavy congestion across the narrow lanes and adjoining roads.
The rush became so intense that several traditional lanes leading to the temple were packed with devotees, making movement difficult for both visitors and local residents.
How did the heavy footfall affect traffic?
Devotees travelling to Vrindavan from different states added to the pressure on the city’s traffic network. Major stretches, including Parikrama Marg, Vidyapeeth Chowk and Jugal Ghat, experienced traffic congestion throughout the day.
Long queues of vehicles slowed traffic to a crawl, while the narrow lanes surrounding the temple became difficult to navigate on foot due to the continuous movement of pilgrims.
Police struggle to manage the crowds
Police personnel and temple security staff faced considerable challenges in regulating the large gathering. Barricades were installed at several points, and devotees were allowed to move forward in controlled batches to prevent further congestion.
Despite these measures, heavy crowd pressure continued around the temple throughout the day.
The religious significance of Kartik month has been drawing increasing numbers of pilgrims to Vrindavan. Sunday’s turnout once again highlighted the challenges faced by the town’s traffic and crowd-management arrangements during periods of heavy religious footfall.
