By IANS
Security arrangements at the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) temple here was further enhanced after a grenade attack Wednesday evening near a temple in northeast India, even as celebrations of Janmashtami – the birth anniversary of Lord Krishna- continued in the capital.
Over 100,000 people visited the ISKCON temple here since early Wednesday morning and the celebration were reaching its peak with the approach of the midnight when Krishna – the eighth reincarnation of Lord Vishnu – is believed to have taken birth.
In Manipur’s capital Imphal, the grenade attack took place at 7.15 p.m. at the ISKCON temple when it was packed with hundreds of devotes. At least four people were killed and 34, including three US nationals, were wounded in the explosion.
‘We have come to know about the Imphal incident but there is nothing to worry. The capital is under a high alert and security arrangement in and around the temple has been in place since early this morning. However, we have directed our officers to be more vigilant and keep a tight look over the situation,’ said Anil Shukla, deputy commissioner of police (south).
‘The temple is guarded by police from all directions and a three-tier security is in place for anyone entering the sanctum sanctorum. Everything is being monitored through close circuit cameras too,’ Shukla, who is supervising the security situation, told IANS.
ISKCON temple authorities said they were satisfied with the security arrangements.
‘It is Lord’s mercy that nothing untoward has happened here so far. There are over 700 police personnel guarding the temple and visitors are being frisked before being allowed to enter the premises,’ said Vijendra Nanda Das, director (communication) of the ISKCON.
Delhi Police have put safety precautions in place for all prominent temples in the capital and nearly 6,000 personnel were on guard – especially at the ISKCON, Lakshmi Narayan temple and Akshardham here.
Tens of thousands of devotees thronged temples since early Wednesday to celebrate Janmashtami though the power crisis forced temples to scale down their decorations.
Temples and homes were decorated and floats depicting stories from Lord Krishna’s childhood could be seen at temples.
The Lord was being invoked with kirtans (religious choruses) ringing of bells, blowing of conches and chanting of Sanskrit verses.
The Lakshmi Narayan temple, also known as the Birla temple, was decked up with flowers and devotees were seen gathering at the temple early for prayers.
‘We visited the Birla temple at 8 a.m. because all the adult members were fasting. It’s the birthday of the Lord of the Universe and we will visit several temples,’ said Sashiprava Aggarwal, a devotee.
Devotees were not allowed to carry liquids or the traditional offering of coconuts inside the Birla temple as parts of security measures. They were only allowed to offer sweets, fruits and flowers to the Lord.
The authorities have made arrangements for a 24-hour celebration at the Akshardham temple that was opened here last year. The temple organised a musical ballet on the life of Lord Krishna that continued till midnight.
However, due to the power crisis across the capital, many temples had to scale down their lighting arrangements.
‘The decorations are mostly floral,’ said Swami Charansinghji, a priest in an east Delhi temple.