Bachchans, Ash perform 'private pujan' at Kashi Vishwanath

Varanasi, Nov 27 (UNI) 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.

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