Varanasi: After two Mondays of the auspicious Shrawan month, Varanasi witnessed a massive influx of saffron-clad Kanwariyas converging at Kashi Vishwanath Temple for Shravan Shivratri on Wednesday. While thousands of pilgrims offered Jalabhishek to Lord Shiv amid chants and flower showers around the Kashi Vishwanath Dham, traffic restrictions left people in old city areas as well as on roads leading to the Prayagraj highway, struggling while Kanwariya groups managed to enter the city with DJ vehicles in large numbers.In anticipation of the heavy footfall, authorities enforced stringent traffic restrictions from Church Crossing to Godaulia and from the Ganga ghats to the temple premises. However, the movement curbs—originally slated only for Sunday night to Monday night—continued to create serious bottlenecks through Tuesday and Wednesday. Residents of Pakka Mahal, in particular, were severely affected, with many barred from using the alleys to commute to school or other destinations. Even pedestrian access from Church Crossing to Godaulia was halted, leaving schoolchildren and local commuters stranded. In response to mounting complaints, Dashashwamedh Chowki In-charge Anujmani Tiwari, accompanied by constables Dinesh Singh and Sachin Rao, intervened at Bansphatak. The team removed barricades and instructed on-duty personnel to allow vehicular access for locals and Pakka Mahal residents. Despite a no-entry directive, DJ-equipped trucks, tractors, and Kanwar-decorated vehicles were seen parked along narrow roads in areas like Luxa, Kamachha, Bhelupura, Vinayaka, and Rath Yatra. The haphazard parking created severe congestion near schools, hospitals, and marketplaces. The situation was particularly dire at the Mohansarai Highway intersection, where traffic on the Varanasi–Prayagraj route came to a standstill. Long queues of vehicles choked both sides of the highway, impacting ambulances, school buses, passenger transport, and labourers commuting to the city. Traders and farmers heading to and from the Rajatalab vegetable market also bore the brunt of the gridlock. Despite the spiritual fervour and festive atmosphere, the lack of streamlined traffic management has raised serious concerns among residents, particularly as more Mondays of Shrawan remain ahead.
