LUCKNOW/PRAYAGRAJ/VARANASI/AYODHYA/MIRZAPUR, Jan. 2 -- The New Year began with a massive pilgrim surge across Uttar Pradesh as dense fog and biting cold failed to deter devotees from thronging major religious centres, prompting extensive security, traffic and crowd-control measures state-wide on Thursday. Thousands of devotees thronged Ayodhya's Ram Mandir on the first day of the new year to offer prayers to Ram Lalla. The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust allowed devotees to perform darshan at the Ram Darbar on the first floor of the temple complex. Inaugurated in 2024, the temple has emerged as a major pilgrimage destination, drawing millions of visitors since its grand opening on January 22, 2024. From early morning, devotees were seen standing in queues stretching nearly two to three kilometres outside the temple. Across the temple town, the massive influx of devotees in Ayodhya created a striking display of faith and devotion, with people of all ages arriving to offer prayers to Ram Lalla and Lord Hanuman. The temple's darshan timings for the winter season are from 7:00 am to 9:15 pm, and the Mangala Aarti (morning prayer) is at 4:30 am. To manage the crowd, temple administration suspended all VIP darshan passes for January 1, 2026. Local residents were also requested to postpone their visits to allow space for devotees from outside the city. According to Ayodhya district magistrate Nikhil Tikaram Funde, elaborate security arrangements were put in place across the temple town in view of the large turnout of devotees. Owing to the heavy rush, devotees were able to get only around 10 seconds for darshan. A large number of devotees also took a holy dip at the Saryu Ghat before visiting the Ram Temple and offered prayers at Hanuman Garhi, where queues stretched over a kilometre. In Varanasi, long queues were seen at the Kashi Vishwanath, Sankat Mochan and Kaal Bhairav temples. Officials said the number of pilgrims had been steadily rising over the past six to seven days. According to the Kashi Vishwanath temple administration, around 3.5 lakh devotees offered prayers at the shrine till Thursday afternoon. Sub-divisional magistrate Shambhu Sharan said arrangements were strengthened from Saturday, with barricading ensured to manage the heavy footfall. All devotees were allowed only barricaded darshan, while protocol and 'sparsh' darshan had been suspended since Wednesday. Meanwhile, Varanasi Junction braced for a surge in passengers ahead of the Magh Mela, which begins on Saturday and will continue till February 15. Station Manager Arpit Gupta said a holding area has been created, more police personnel have been deployed and medical facilities have been enhanced. Surveillance was strengthened at the station and five special trains will operate from Varanasi Junction during the Magh Mela period, they said. Heavy pilgrim movement was also reported from Mathura and Vrindavan, where devotees thronged the Banke Bihari and Radha Rani temples. In Mirzapur, the district administration made special arrangements at the Vindhyachal Dham to facilitate the expected influx of 1.5 to 2 lakh devotees on the New Year in view of crowd movement. Heaters were turned on inside the temple, and bonfires were lit along major routes to give succour from the cold to devotees. Night shelters were set up for those who came from far. Security was tightened at the temple complex, Ganga ghats and key roads. District magistrate Pawan Kumar Gangwar said extensive arrangements had been made to ensure that devotees could have quick and hassle-free darshan. Cold weather and dense fog failed to deter devotees as thousands took a holy dip at the Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj on New Year's Day on Thursday. From early morning, pilgrims converged at the Sangam to offer prayers and perform ritual bathing on the first day of the year. with agency inputs...