Ayodhya (UP), Jan. 29 -- Ayodhya witnessed an overwhelming surge of devotees on the sacred occasion of Mauni Amavasya with devotees observing as they took a holy dip in the Saryu River, later breaking into chants of "Shri Ram" that resonated across Ayodhya Dham on Wednesday.

The temple town remained packed with worshippers throughout the day, with long queues outside Ram Mandir and Hanuman Garhi extending late evening. Experts estimate that over 50 lakh devotees have arrived in Ayodhya in the past 72 hours and the influx is expected to continue until Vasant Panchami.

Pilgrims from the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj are now heading to Ayodhya. Anticipating this surge, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had directed the officials to ensure seamless cr...