10L pilgrims expected at ‘14 Kosi Parikrama’ in Ayodhya post Covid

Ayodhya: The twin towns of Ayodhya and Faizabad have been sealed to welcome an estimated 10lakh devotees from Friday for ‘Chaudah Kosi Parikrama’ — first big religious congregation in Ayodhya since the first and second Covid-19 waves halted festive gatherings. The parikrama, which is organised just after Deepawali, is 45km trek undertaken by pilgrims around the periphery of the twin towns.
According to Ayodhya administration, more than 10lakh devotees are expected to take part in the gathering, which will start on Friday and conclude late Saturday.The borders of Faizabad and Ayodhya towns were sealed late Thursday and vehicular entry into the twin towns through highways were banned. If the crowd swells, vehicles coming from Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Azamgarh, Rae Bareli, Sultanpur and Gonda will be diverted at least 100km before the district borders, said a top police officer.
The centuries-old ‘Chaudah Kosi Parikrama' ushers the beginning of ‘Kartik Purnima Mela' in Ayodhya and this will be followed by ‘Panch Kosi Parikrama' in which devotees will do a 15km round-trek of the town’s periphery. Talking to TOI, inspector general of police, Ayodhya range, KP Singh, said, “Around 30lakh devotees could participate in both 'parikramas' and the numbers could increase with many devotees arriving to witness construction of the Ram temple. “The district administration has made elaborate arrangements to control traffic and barricades have been erected at over 36 intersections on the 'parikrama' route,” he said.