Patna: Authorities at the Mahavir Mandir have made extensive preparations for Ram Navami, with half a million devotees expected to visit the shrine on Thursday.
The temple will open its gates at 2am, allowing worshippers to begin offering prayers following early morning rituals and aarti. Officials said the first 10 devotees to enter the temple would be honoured as part of the celebrations.
The shrine has been decorated with elaborate lighting and floral arrangements, with flowers sourced from Kolkata. Hundreds of lights have been installed across the complex, while an 80-tonne air-conditioning system has been fitted inside the sanctum to manage the expected surge in footfall.
Temple authorities estimate that around 5,00,000 devotees will visit over the course of the day. To accommodate the crowds, 20 LED screens have been installed to broadcast live rituals, and a structured entry and exit system will be in place, with devotees entering through the north gate and exiting via the east gate.
A total of 25,000kg of naivedyam laddus — prepared by artisans from Tirupati and valued at approximately Rs 90 Lakh — will be distributed to devotees. The prasad will be available at 15 counters set up from the temple premises to Veer Kunwar Singh Park, with contingency arrangements for an additional 6,000kg if required.
The temple administration said that 52 jhankis from across the city would arrive at the site as part of the celebrations, and participating groups would be formally recognised.
Officials have prohibited the sale of prasad inside the temple premises, directing devotees to designated counters outside instead. District authorities will also oversee videography of the event as part of crowd management and security measures.
The temple management has urged visitors to follow designated routes and maintain order during the celebrations.
