City of Shiva, Varanasi plunges into '' Bhang'' on Shivratri

Varanasi/Lucknow, Feb 26 (UNI) The holy city of Varanasi considered to be the abode of Lord Shiva, today plunged into his prized ''Prasad'' (offering) as the day's consumption of ''Bhang'' an intoxicant, rose to 500 kg.

State Excise department sources said that since Bhang is consumed as ''Prasad'' on Maha Shivratri, the day's consumption of Bhang shot upto substantially.

People consumed Bhang with dairy products and ''thandhai.'' Meanwhile, all Shivalayas in the city were decorated and people offered Jalabhishek to Lord Shiva. However, over 100 Shiv Sainiks were arrested trying to perform the same at the disputed Kashi Vishwanath-Gyanwapi complex.

People also took holy dips in the Ganga river.

Meanwhile, Shivaratri celebrations were also reported at other places in the state including Banda, Lucknow, Muzaffarnagar, Ayodhya, Mathura and Kanpur.

UNI TEAM ARS MA PC1943