The mobile ATMs and point of sale (card-swipe) machines at the tent cities at Kangan Ghat, Bypass Road and Gandhi Maidan are evidence of the meticulous planning that has gone in behind Prakash Utsav arrangements.

These facilities have come as a great help for devotees coming to these tent cities from across the country.

Parminder Singh, a devotee from Jalandhar district who reached Bypass tent city on Monday, was happy to see a Central Bank of India mobile ATM situated at the administrative block. Singh, who has come with his family, said: "I reached Hajipur by the Garib Rath today morning. As there was a direct bus from Hajipur to Bypass tent city arranged by the Bihar State Road Transport Corporation (BSRTC), I didn't get time to withdraw cash at Hajipur. I didn't have cash, I was worried but all my worries came to end on seeing the Central Bank of India ATM," added Singh. Parminder Singh withdrew Rs 4,500 from there.

Like Singh, there were many who utilised the services of mobile ATMs and swipe machines for withdrawing cash at tent cities. At the Bypass tent city, apart from Central Bank of India, the SBI too has installed a mobile ATM and 10 swipe machines. Dena Bank also has set up a mobile ATM van at the tent city.

At Kangan Ghat, the Central Bank of India has set up a mobile ATM, while the Punjab National Bank has set up two swipe machines for withdrawing cash. Kaushalendra Kumar, branch head of Punjab National Bank (Patna City) branch, who is looking after the swipe machines at Kangan Ghat, said: "Post demonetisation we knew that people will face cash problems. On directive from the head office, we decided to set up swipe machines. On an average, around 50 people are coming every day for taking out cash."

The SBI has set up 20 swipe machines in three tent cities with five PoS machine at the Gandhi Maidan area alone. Similarly, of the SBI's two mobile ATMs in the state, one has been installed at the Bypass tent city while the other at the Kalchakra Puja venue in Bodhgaya. Anand Bikram, assistant general manager, ATM operations, SBI, said: "We ensured that there is no cash shortage for devotees. ATMs located at the periphery of tent cities and Gandhi Maidan have been filled with cash so that devotees don't face any cash shortage."

Also for making online transactions hassle-free, the entire tent cities area has been made a free Wi-fi zone.

Rifles to riffs

Devotees thronging Takht Sri Harmandir Sahib were entertained by musicians playing bagpipes and other instruments at the shrine on Monday. Not many knew, however, that half of the band's members are equally adept at handling a rifle.

Keval Singh Fouji, the leader of the Keval's Army Band, is a retired army man. Keval formed the band after taking voluntary retirement in 2004. "There are nine members, of which five are retired army personnel including me. I retired as Naik. There also used to be a musical band in the army in which I used to play. I got the inspiration to start a musical band since then. I have performed all across the country. I am happy that the temple management committee members of Takht Sri Harmandir Sahib brought us here for the Prakash Utsav celebrations," said 54-year-old Keval.

He said four members of the band play bagpipes while one plays the whistle drum, the other two play different kinds of drums.