Manipur, IMPHAL, August 10: Amidst a tight security vigil from the state home department, Hindu devotees of the state thronged the Govindajee Temple and the International Society for Krishna Consciousness temple in Imphal on the auspicious occasion of Janmastami today.
Devotees had started thronging the Hindu temples in the state since the midnight of August 9.
Manipur has a prominent Hindu population mainly distributed in an around the valley districts. The two main Hindu temples of the state saw large droves of devotees on the day believed to be the Hindu God Lord Krishna’s birth anniversary.
Devotees were seen paying their obeisance at the Govindajee temple in Imphal amidst loud blowing of the conch, drum (pungs) beats and kirtans since last night.
‘Nat-Sankirtan palas’ from different places of the state came and performed at the temple throughout the day.
Meanwhile, at the Imphal ISKCON temple which celebrates the day with great pomp every year also attracted huge crowds of devotees. A main component of the Janmastami celebration in the state, Rasa Leela-enactments of Lord Krishna’s Life-was recreated at the ISKCON temple throughout the day.
Boys and girls performing Ras Leela (Famous Manipuri Classical Dance form)at the ISKCON temple Manipur, as part of the Janmastami festival on Friday – Photo IFP
Meanwhile, a tight security vigil was seen in an around the two major Hindu temples as part of precautionary measures against a repeat of the August 16 ISKCON bomb blast during the Janmastami celebration injuring ISKCON head priest Damodar and three foreigners.
The police personnel manning the entry points were seen using metal detectors upon the devotees. However the devotees seemed not to have forgotten the ghastly incident of 2006 and seemed not at all unhappy with the used of the metal detectors.
Owing to their sheer number, the devotees were made to enter the compounds of the two temples in queues. All roads leading to the two temples were remained jammed since early evening today. Police personnel were seen assisting the state traffic personnel along the roads leading to the temples.
State police personnel also conducted frisking and checking operations at several vital points.
