New Delhi, Jan 23 (IANS) On the auspicious occasion of Basant Panchami on Friday, a large number of devotees thronged the banks of the Sarayu River in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, to take the traditional holy dip, marking the arrival of spring and invoking blessings at the onset of the festival.

Pilgrims also performed prayers and offered worship at temples and sacred ghats amid well‑managed arrangements by local authorities.

From early morning, devotees began assembling at the Sarayu ghats, chanting hymns and participating in ritualistic bathing, a customary practice observed with deep faith on Basant Panchami. Officials on site confirmed that the spiritual atmosphere, combined with orderly arrangements, contributed to a smooth conduct of the event.

Speaking to IANS, after taking the holy bath, one devotee expressed her joy and satisfaction with the experience, saying, “I felt very good after today’s holy bath and experienced great joy. We will go for darshan now. Basant Panchami is a very important day for us. The arrangements here are quite good.”

Another pilgrim, after worship and bathing, thanked the administration, alongside sharing her spiritual routine for the day: “We had Ramlala darshan, and I would like to extend thanks to the government. Today we took a holy bath on Basant Panchami. We were here listening to Bhagwat Katha, and are leaving for home today.”

Several others also praised the organisational efforts. “The administrative arrangements are very good, and the cooperation from the local people is also excellent,” added another devotee after completing the ritualistic dip.

Basant Panchami is traditionally dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, the deity of knowledge, wisdom and arts, and marks the transition of seasons as devotees seek spiritual and intellectual blessings. Celebrations across the region often include puja ceremonies, chanting of sacred hymns, and in many places, ritual bathing in holy rivers holds special spiritual significance.

In Ayodhya, authorities had earlier inspected key ghats and mela (fair) areas in preparation for Basant Panchami and associated gatherings. Measures were put in place to assist pilgrims with crowd flow, safety, sanitation and medical services.

Although final official crowd figures for Ayodhya were not immediately released, similar festive gatherings in the region have in past years drawn massive numbers of devotees, with Ayodhya witnessing over 15 lakh visitors on Basant Panchami celebrations in previous observances.

–IANS

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