Hazaribagh, Nov. 14: If you thought queues are only outside banks and ATMs these days, think again.

The 450-year-old Narsingh Sthan in Khapariawan village, 5km from Hazaribagh district headquarters, today drew over 50,000 people on Kartik Purnima (full moon day in November-December). The devotees, who started queuing up with marigold flowers since 4am, offered prayers to Narsingh, one of the 10 incarnations of Lord Vishnu.

People from across the state and neighbouring Bihar throng the mandir, one of the few Narsingh temples across India, every year on this day to get their wishes fulfilled besides enjoying the Narsingh Mela, famous for sugarcanes.

Sugarcane farmers said this day marked the beginning of sale of their produce on a mass scale across the district. Not just local farmers, those from other districts like Lohardaga and Ranchi also come in large numbers to earn quick bucks.

A sugarcane-seller from Lohardaga, Pradeep Kumar, said he sold around 100 sugarcanes for Rs 20 each.

Tattoo stalls were the other hit. Naresh Paswan (54), a resident of Hazaribagh town, got a tika on his forehead for Rs 25.

"This is an identification mark as I have a twin brother, Suresh Paswan. We are daily wage labourers and most of the time, people get confused while identifying us," he said, wiping blood droplets on his forehead with a handkerchief.

Besides, several small kiosks selling toys to bangles and pictures of gods and goddesses to actors apart from eateries didn't do bad business either.

Secretary of the puja samiti Ajay Mishra said the mela didn't witness a decrease in footfall despite cash crunch.

Throwing light on the history of the mandir, secretary of Narsingh Sthan Puja Samiti Ajay Mishra said some 450 years ago, a local priest had gone to Bhusundi Hill in Nepal after dreaming about the idol. Priest Damodar Mishra had brought this idol here and a temple was built later.

The ancient dilapidated temple was rebuilt on December 25, 1990, thanks to the initiative taken by former Barkatha MLA Lambodar Pathak.