Kashi Vishwanath Suspends Sparsh Darshan Till January 2
Amid an unprecedented New Year rush, the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi has announced the suspension of Sparsh Darshan from December 24 to January 2. This decision has been made to manage the massive influx of devotees and ensure safety within the temple premises.
According to the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust, this temporary halt on tactile darshan will help prevent overcrowding during peak days. Sparsh Darshan allows devotees to physically touch the Shivling, which becomes challenging to regulate when lakhs of pilgrims arrive simultaneously.
Officials estimate that over 600,000 devotees are expected to visit the temple on December 31 and January 1 alone. Even during the last week of December, daily footfall has exceeded 200,000 to 250,000 visitors. To streamline movement, a zigzag queue system has been implemented within the Kashi Vishwanath Dham complex.
Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Shambhu Sharan confirmed that devotees have already begun arriving in large numbers, and the administration is closely monitoring crowd movement. Security arrangements have been strengthened, and additional personnel have been deployed to ensure smooth darshan for all pilgrims.
Kashi continues to emerge as one of India’s top spiritual destinations for New Year celebrations. Since the inauguration of the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, religious tourism has seen significant growth, with families and youth increasingly opting for spiritual visits over conventional New Year parties.
The Shri Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga, one of the 12 Jyotirlingas in India, remains a major center of faith, attracting millions of devotees each year. The temporary suspension of Sparsh Darshan aims to ensure that devotees can still enjoy a safe and peaceful darshan experience during the festive rush.
