VARANASI, Feb. 15 -- As many as 5.46 lakh devotees had offered prayers at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple by 7pm on the occasion of Mahashivaratri on Sunday even as long queues continued till the filing of the report.

Devotees in huge numbers from Purvanchal started arriving in the temple town for the occasion and camped at Dashashwamedh, Godaulia, and Maidagin areas since Saturday evening. As night fell, they began lining up after bathing in the Ganga.

According to Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust's chief executive officer Vishwa Bhushan Mishra, after Mangala Aarti by 6.40am, around 160,000 devotees had darshan of Baba Kashi Vishwanath, and by 7 pm the number had crossed two lakh. Mishra also showered flowers on the devotees. According t...