Five lakh visitors and counting: On Day 1 after Ayodhya Ram Temple inauguration, a rush for ‘first darshan’

Around 8,000 security personnel have been deployed to manage the rush. On Day 1, Principal Secretary (Home) Sanjay Prasad and Director General (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar were also at the temple to oversee the crowd management. Both could be seen trying to ensure a smooth flow of pilgrims.

At 4.40 pm, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath reached the temple town. He first took an aerial review of the crowd from a helicopter and then reached the temple to take stock. Those present at the temple gates said the CM had made a personal appeal to the crowd: “Darshan ke liye na harbarayen. Bheed normal hone ke baad Ayodhya aayein (do not be in a rush to pay obeisance. Let the crowd become normal and then come to Ayodhya).”

Heavy rush of devotees outside Ram Temple in Ayodhya to offer prayers

Read @ANI Story | https://t.co/L1OUX4bnsJ#Ayodhya #RamTemple pic.twitter.com/Kq4a7F34hn

— ANI Digital (@ani_digital) January 23, 2024

The CM also called senior police and administrative officers and held a review of crowd management efforts on the premises.

Large number of devotees gather to enter the Ram temple, in Ayodhya, Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024. The doors of the Ram temple opened to the general public on Tuesday, a day after the consecration of the new Ram Lalla idol. (PTI Photo)

Later, Director General of Police Vijay Kumar said, “A system is being put in place to have a holding area for the crowd. So, if 50,000 people come at a time, they can be stopped at different entry points and at different holding areas and can move ahead for darshan slowly.”

People had started gathering at the Ram Janmabhoomi Path, which leads to the temple, as early as 3 am. These included both locals, who called themselves “Ayodhya vasi”, and pilgrims from far and wide.

With little knowledge of what is and isn’t allowed inside, pilgrims from other states and districts carried with them huge bags, walking on foot towards the temple gates since vehicles were stopped six kilometres away. With heavy luggage on their heads, many said they wanted to be the first ones to offer prayers.

#WATCH | Uttar Pradesh: People gathered to take a holy dip at Saryu Ghat in Ayodhya.

Pran Pratishtha ceremony was done yesterday at Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple. pic.twitter.com/rMGLlgVVsq

— ANI (@ANI) January 23, 2024

By 6 am, the 566-metre-long Ram Janmabhoomi Path was packed, as pilgrims tried to push their way inside. Security forces tried telling them they cannot enter with luggage or mobile phones, but not everyone paid heed.

Sources said the official timing to open the gates had been kept as 7 am but considering the crowd, an exception was made and the first line of barricades was removed around 6.30 am. Eager to have the “first darshan”, some even left their bags on the road as they did not want to leave the queue to deposit their belongings elsewhere.

The darshan closed around 11 am and a huge crowd again began to gather at the gates. Once the gates reopened around 2 pm, security forces urged the crowd to form a queue and to leave their phones outside. But as the pressure increased, pilgrims said they were eventually allowed to carry their phones with them.

What we saw in Ayodhya yesterday, 22nd January, will be etched in our memories for years to come. pic.twitter.com/8SXnFGnyWg

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 23, 2024

Officials said the temple gates are scheduled to close at 7 pm.

“Darshan ho gaya,” said Bansi Dhar Mahanti, who had come from Odisha with his family of 10 and had been staying in Ayodhya for the last eight days. “Bohot bheed thi (it was very crowded). I kept my phone with my wife and entered. Many people just abandoned their bags outside,” he said. The family reached the temple gates around 2.45 am and could have a glimpse of the new idol around 7 am.

Poonam (42), part of a group of 25 from Bihar, arrived in Ayodhya six days ago and stayed in an ashram. They queued up around 6 am and managed to enter around 9 am.

Also in the crowd outside was 21-year-old Kirti, who stood out because she was not lugging any belongings. “Ayodhya vasi hain. Pehla darshan humara hona chahiye (we are from Ayodhya; the first darshan should be ours),” she said.