Bachchans, Ash perform 'private pujan' in Kashi

Varanasi, Nov 27: While the young district magistrate termed it as ''private pujan'' by the Bachchan family and Aishwarya Rai, the priests termed the early morning 'pujan' at the world famous Kashi Vishwanath temple here as a ''pre-planned'' affair for a larger cause.

The Bachchan family comprising Big B Amitabh Bachchan, Rajya Sabha MP wife Jaya Bachchan, son Abhishek, daughter Shweta, brother Ajitabh and niece Namrata alongwith doe-eyed former Miss World Aishwarya Rai and trusted family friend and ruling Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh performed the Abhishek Pujan at the Kashi Vishwanath temple early today.

The celebrated devotees, prior to the Abhishek Pujan also caught the treasured glimpse of the early morning 'Mangala Arti' amid the resonance of 'damru and shankh' and celestial flame arising out of 'kapur.' The Bachchan family alongwith Ash arrived by two special private flights from New Delhi and Mumbai at Varanasi Airport last night and after a short nap at Hotel Taj Ganges the traditionally attired who's who left for the Kashi Vishwanath temple at around 0220 hrs.

Reaching the world famous temple at 0240 hrs, the entire family was ushered into a relatively empty temple, where they alongwith handful of other devotees catched the glimpse of the Mangala Arti performed by five priests under the supervision of Acharya Sitaram Shastri.

On the completion of 'Arti,' District Magistrate Rajiv Agrawal urged other devotees to leave the temple. Mr Agrawal, requested some mediapersons present to leave the temple as the Bachchan's wanted to perform a 'private pujan' away from public glare.

As per temple sources, the Big B holding a 'silver shringi' performed the Abhishek Pujan of Kashi Vishwanath with wife Jaya standing to her right holding his right hand, while son Abhishek stood to the left of the illustrious father. Interestingly, Aishwarya, speculations of whose marriage with the junior Bachchan are rife, also stood to the right of Abhishek, much like Jaya Bachchan stood to Amitabh.

The Abhishek Pujan culminated with Ash and Abhishek offering Gangajal to Kashi Vishwanath, much like Amitabh and Jaya. ''I asked both Aishwarya and Abhishek to offer the sacred water to the Shivalinga just like Amitji and Jayaji,'' Srikant Mishra, one of the 11 priests who performed the Abhishek Pujan told newspersons later.

The Abhishek Pujan culmination led the entire family venturing into the 'Parvati Kaksh' where Ash put on the forehead the 'Sindoor' (vermillion) awarded by the priest from the idol of Goddess Parvati.

The nearly two-hour pujan (Arti and Abhishek) was followed by the entire celebrity family leaving for the Sankatmochan temple alongwith Ash and Amar Singh.

''Whenever Amitji has come to Varanasi he has made it a point to visit the temple. But this time the pujan was not a routine affair, but instead a pre-planned religious ritual aimed towards a larger cause. The family took a sankalp, which only they can disclose,'' Mr Mishra added.

When asked about whether the entire religious exercise was motivated by the prospective marital cause between Ash and Abhishek, Mr Mishra only said both Mangala Arti and Abhishek Pujan help in clearing hurdles in any affair.

Coincidentally, today was the 100th birthday of Big B's famous poet father Dr Harivansh Rai Bachchan and the family celebrated it in style with the celestial 'darshan' at Kashi Vishwanath in the prized 'Bramha Muhurat.' The priest-cum-astrologer of the Bachchan family, Acharya Chandramauli Upadhayay after performing the Abhishek Pujan, Dugdabhishek and Jalabhishek, at the Kashi Vishwanath temple accompanied his neswmaker 'yajmans' to the Sankatmochan temple.

The celebrated devouts first participated in the early morning Arti of Lord Hanuman followed by 'parikrama' of the Hanuman and 'darshan' at Ram Janaki temples.

They were then led by Acharya Upadhyaya to the 'havan kund' in the temple premises, where 85 priests had been performing the Shanti Paath for the famous family since yesterday. The Shanti Paath was ensued by the 'Panchang Pujan' and recital of Hanuman Chalisa by the Bachchans and Ash.

The last on the one and half hour pujan programme were the Yash Kirti Yajna and Navagraha Shanti Path, which priests present at the temple said was performed for the prosperity of the 'yajmans.' The entire family alongwith Ash also participated in the 'havan' with Amitabh seated next to Jaya and son Abhishek flanked by former Miss World.

The entire religious exercise at the March 7 last blast-hit temple assumed significance in the wake of reports that there was a hurdle of 'Mangal Graha' in Ash's horoscope which was hampering the prospects of her marital bond with Abhishek.

The Bachchans after an hour and half 'pujan' at the Sankatmochan temple left for the Hotel at 0630 hrs. As per the official protocol, while Junior Bachchan will fly to Agra at 1230 hrs today, the private plane will leave for New Delhi from Agra at 1430 hrs.

The remaining members of the Bachchan family Amitabh, Ajitabh, Shweta and Namrata will leave by another private flight for Mumbai also at 1230 hrs from Varanasi Airport.

UNI

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