Enthusiastic celebrations mark Ram Navami in Nashik, many devotees walk to Shirdi to offer prayers at Sai temple

Nashik: Shri Ram Navami was celebrated with great enthusiasm across the city and district on Sunday, with thousands thronging Ram temples. The highlight of the festival was the rush of devotees at the ancient Shri Kalaram temple.
Senior politicians, including state agriculture minister Manikrao Kokate, MLA and former Nashik guardian minister Chhagan Bhujbal, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, state Congress chief Harshvardhan Sapkal, Dhule MP Shobha Bacchav, MLA Devyani Pharande, MLA Rahul Dhikle, former MP Hemant Godse, Nashik district collector Jalaj Sharma, NMC commissioner Manisha Khatri and other govt officers offered prayers at the Kalaram temple.
Lakhs of people also visited the Saibaba temple in Shirdi, with thousands of devotees seen walking from Nashik to Shirdi to offer prayers. The Shri Kalaram temple management had put up a pandal on the temple premises. One could see a queue of devotees stretching over 2km for darshan. Earlier in the day, Shri Kakad Aarti was performed at the temple at 7am, followed by various other religious rituals. Darshan continued till late in the night. Prashad was distributed to thousands of devotees. The temple management also arranged for drinking water.
Meanwhile, there were parayans, kirtans, bhajans, and mahaprasad in temples across the city. The Ahilyaram temple, Goreram temple, and other famous temples saw a huge rush of devotees from early morning, which continued throughout the day.
Ram temples saw a huge rush in Nashik Road, Satpur, Gangapur Road, and other parts of the city. Police made traffic diversions to ensure there was no congestion due to the huge rush of devotees at the Kalaram temple.
The Shirdi police put in place strict security and traffic arrangements to accommodate the devotees without hampering the vehicular traffic of Shirdi.