Prayagraj: A network of CCTV cameras, barricades, quick response teams, drones and additional police forces are at work to man the rush of devotees expected to throng ghats and prominent Lord Shiv temples in Sangam city on the occasion of third Somvar and Nag Panchami, which would be celebrated on Monday. Senior cops have focused on four key points including police deployment, surveillence system, crowd and route management and ghat safety to make the festival safe and secure for devotees.Police and district officials beefed up security arrangements at five prominent temples including Nagvasuki Mandir, Padila Mahadev, Shri Mankameshwar, Natheshwar Mahadev, Someshwar Mahadev and ghats on Sunday.A senior cop told TOI, “Apart from deployment of additional police forces at ghats and temples, a network of CCTV cameras, barricades and additional police pickets have been stationed at all prominent city temples ahead of Naag Panchami. As more kanwariyas are rushing to city’s ghats, more policemen were deployed on the routes between Jhunsi and Handia.”Security has been beefed up at Dashashwamedh Ghat and Sangam in anticipation of the large number of kanwariyas expected to visit the famous banks along Ganga to collect water for offering it at Lord Shiv temples.On Sunday too, scores of groups of kawariyas started their journey to Varanasi’s Kashi Vishwanath temple from Sangam and other ghats to perform ‘jalabhishek’ on Naag Panchami.Kaushambi resident Ashok Kewarwani and friends took Gangajal from Sangam and set out for Varanasi on Sunday. “We would cover the distance on two motorcycles,” he said.Premises of local temples of Lord Shiv like Naag Vasuki, Shiv Kutchery temple, Mankameshwar temple and Padila Mahadev were surrounded by units of para military jawans since early Sunday morning.City based religious scholar Dr. Amitabh Gour said, on Naag Panchamidevotees design a snake out of cow dung in their homes and offer it milk, kusha (grass), sandalwood and rice. “Bathing the snake in milk is believed to rid one of his/her sins.”
