Varanasi, Aug 31 (Agency) Organisers of Ganga Aarti at different ghats in Varanasi have urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to intervene after local authorities told them not to hold the daily event due to the rising levels in the Ganga river. The police notice urged them not to organise the Ganga Aarti “in a grand manner” as that poses a threat to the large crowds which collect for the daily progamme. The police said that due to the rising level of the river, there was no place left on the Ghats but the organisers were not paying any heed to the requests by the police.
The police also sought details of the arrangements made for the pilgrims attending the event.After getting the notice from the police, around 40 organisations which organise Ganga Aartis held a meeting and expressed their anger over police and district administration’s interference. The President of the Ganga Sewa Nidhi, Sushant Mishra, said: “We have demanded the PM and the CM to intervene in the matter as it is related to the faith of crores of people who attend the Ganga Aarti every day. “Mishra said there was no provision to seek permission for daily Aarti. He said the police are disrespecting Sanatan Dharma. Mishra said due to floods, the Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat was being held on the terrace. At the other ghats where terraces are built lower, the aarti has been stopped completely.