3-day 'rath yatra' fair starts amid tight security in Varanasi

Varanasi, Jul 4 (UNI) The three-day 'Rath Yatra mela' started with prayers of lord Ganesh and Saligram amid tight security in this holy city of Uttar Pradesh early today.

In wake of recent terrorist attacks in UP, police performed drill and examined the entire area with bomb detectors last evening.

Several arrangements, including, temporary police chowkis, implementation of section 144 of the IPC (barring group of five or more people standing together) were also made to avoid any untoward incident, official sources said.

The 'Rath' was tastefully decorated with fragrancing flowers and colourful strips. Besides, food, toys and other such stalls were set up in the annual fair.

The much awaited fair pulled a large gathering, of which lakhs were from the nearby districts itself.

Meanwhile, in the other areas of the city 'shrangar jhanki' of lords Jagannath, devi Subhadra and Sribalbhadra were made.

'Bhajan' and 'kirtans' were also performed by the devotees.

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