Kangra,
Despite tall claims of the authorities that all arrangements have been completed to face the rush of pilgrims visiting three temple towns in connection with ‘chaitra Navratras’ currently going on, the pilgrims for want of accommodation had to spend nights in the open by the street sides in Kangra town.

Nearly 60,000 pilgrims visited Bajjreshwari temple during the first seven days of the chaitra Navratras, when there is accommodation available for only 800 persons in temple sarais and yatri sadan, both run by the temple Trust.

Though private hotels are available in the town, they are out of reach of followers of Daynoo Baghat, who visit in large numbers here.

During early nineties, the district administration headed by Manisha Shridhar, the then DC, had established tent colonies in the town to provide accommodation during nights to the pilgrims.

These tent colonies were disapproved later on by the authorities without any concrete reason and the pilgrims are now spending nights in open.

Mahesh Yadav from Faizabad, UP, said they arrived here last evening for the devi dharshan but they had no option but to spend the night on the street outside the old bus stand.

The information center established at the Tehsil Chowk sans a public address system thus has lost its utility and the pilgrims had to suffer for right information.

Sandeep Sareen, a social activist, said that the economy of this temple town gets a boost due to pilgrim influx and and so the pilgrims should be given better facilities. Temple authorities today said more than Rs 7 lakh was offered in the temple during the seven days of the Navrarta besides gold and silver.

P.R.Agnihotri, a retired Executive Engineer, said the state government. should take the issue seriously to provide facilities to the visiting pilgrims, in order to boost the temple tourism in the state.