Kashi Vishwanath temple suspends 'sparsh & VIP darshan' till January 3 amid new year rush

The administration of the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi has taken a significant step to manage the massive influx of devotees ahead of the New Year. Starting from Wednesday, all touch-based (sparsh) and protocol-based darshan arrangements have been suspended until January 3, 2026. This decision aims to ensure the safety of pilgrims as footfall has surged dramatically since December 22, with crowds now resembling major religious fairs.

Temple officials noted that the surge in visitors is unprecedented, with many choosing spiritual centers like Kashi and Mathura over traditional hill stations for the holiday period. To maintain a smooth flow of traffic within the corridor, the temple trust has transitioned to a visual-only "Jhanki Darshan" system. This means that for the next week, no devotee—including VIPs or those with special protocol requests—will be allowed to enter the sanctum sanctorum to touch the Jyotirlinga.

Chief Executive Officer Vishwabhushan Mishra stated that the zig-zag queue system has been intensified to prevent stampede-like situations. The suspension of special privileges is a move to prioritize the general public, ensuring that every devotee gets a chance to see the deity without the delays caused by time-consuming tactile rituals. Currently, Varanasi is witnessing nearly 2 to 2.5 lakh visitors daily, a number expected to peak even higher on January 1.