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Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh), July 7 (ANI): Devotees in Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi city are disappointed with the trustees of the famous Hindu shrine ‘Kashi Vishwanath Mandir’, for increasing fees to attend prayers and other rituals.

The fees to attend prayers and perform other rituals at the famous Kashi Vishwanath Mandir have been raised by Rs 50.The trustees have also hiked the entrance fee to attend the morning and evening rituals and other prayers.

The temple trustees contend that the income from the increased fees would be utilised in the maintenance and other improvements in the temple.

“The money that will be received as a part of the fee will be used for the repair and maintenance of the temple and offerings to Lord Shiva. And people will be fortunate to contribute in the development of the temple of Lord Shiva,” said Harihar Tripathi, President, Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust, Varanasi.

“So, the development committee members of the temple trust have decided to use the money for the development of the temple,” he added.

The locals, however, said the increase in fees would discourage the devotees from attending the morning and even prayers.

“Amidst the rising prices of everything, the decision of increasing the temple fee is not at all fair. And it is not at all in favour of devotees. The members of the temple trust have made the temple a source of their personal income and this has really affected the sentiments of the devotees,” said Gulshan Kumar, a local.

Temple holds five Aartis in a day.

The Managl Aarti (the morning devotional offering), Bhog Aarti (the devotional offering of food to the deity), Saptrshi Aarti (devotional offering dedicated to the Seven Seers), Shringar Aarti (the offering after decorating the deity) and Shayan Aarti (the last offering before the deity retires for the day) are the prime five daily events at this temple.

The fees for attending the Aarti, except the Shayan Aarti, have been increased from Rs 101 to Rs 201. (ANI)