Devotees queue up outside the Mahavir Temple in Patna on Tuesday morning and (above) girls sit for Kumari puja on the occasion of Ram Navami, in Gaya on Tuesday. Pictures by Piyush Kumar Tripathi and Suman

Patna, April 12: By midnight, a sea of devotees had arrived at the Mahavir Temple in the state capital. Most of them were clad in red clothes and carrying red flags. They were celebrating the victory of good over evil, Ram defeating Raavan.

Chaitra Ram Navami, celebrated today, marks the final day of the nine-day-long fast and puja for goddess Durga. It also marks the beginning of the new year according to Vikram Samvat, the Hindu calendar.

Long queues of devotees were seen outside the Hanuman temple near Patna Junction yesterday evening. Some of them had turned up hours earlier, though the Mahavir Mandir Trust officials had announced that the curtains would be raised only at 1.30am. The eager devotees did not want to be late for the Asthami puja.

So queues at the temple, stretched from the northern gate near Patna Junction to R-Block.

“I joined the queue at 11pm at R-Block but managed to enter the temple eight hours later,” said Patna City resident Shivam Kumar, who performed the puja this morning.

He added: “I have been visiting this temple for the past five years. I don’t mind the crowd or the long queues, as I know god will grant my wishes.”

The temple authorities had made ample arrangements for the convenience of the devotees and also to ensure their safety.

“A large number of devotees come to our temple for this festival. More than 5 lakh people must have come here today. Entrance is allowed only through the northern gate. A 500-strong contingent comprising police personnel and private security guards are deployed to ensure safety of the devotees,” said Acharya Kunal Kishor, secretary, Mahavir Mandir Trust.

He added: “All activities were monitored by the 12 closed circuit TV cameras. There are also enough volunteers to manage the crowd and prevent a stampede.”

A number of rituals were performed at the temple throughout yesterday. At 4am, there was a Ramcharitmanas paath (reading). Later in the morning, around 11am, there was an hour-long Hanuman puja. In the afternoon, aarti was performed. Later, rot, a special prasad, was distributed. In the evening, havan was also performed.

A number of people also celebrated the festival at home but most preferred to visit temples in Patna. Another popular destination was Hanuman Mandir at Rajvanshi Nagar. “While a large number of devotees turn up at the temple every Tuesday, more than a lakh devotees are expected on Ram Navami,” said Santosh Kumar Tiwari, a priest at the temple.

A number of rituals are also observed here: on the first day of Navratri, there is kalash-sthapna, which marks the beginning of the puja. Then there is Ramcharitmanas paath and akhand (unbroken) Hari kirtan, performed without a break for nine days. On Dashami, there is the visarjan, or the immersion of the idol.

Tiwari added: “A battalion of Bihar Military Police, as well as a large number of police personnel and home guards, are deployed for crowd management.”

Anisabad resident Rima Sinha, who had come to the temple today, said: “I came at 6am but could enter the temple only at 8am. But I believe all my wishes will come true if I pray at this temple.”