<p>Sambhal/Varanasi: Devotess on the first day of Navratri on Sunday thronged temples in Sambhal and Varanasi sending the markets abuzz with a religious fervidness ahead of Eid, which through its month-long run-up, has already primed sellers for an increased sales and footfall.</p>.<p>Tight security arrangements have been made to maintain peace and order in the state, which has seen communal confrontations in the recent past.</p>.<p>In Sambhal, devotees thronged the Chamunda Devi temple and the Durga temple at Rambagh Dham in Chandausi to offer prayers.</p>.<p>Chanchal Sunny Gupta, a municipal member from Ward 18, said, "There is enthusiasm among devotees in Sambhal. All temples have been cleaned, and the police have made excellent security arrangements." Bal Mukund Gupta, a devotee at Chamunda temple, said "It took me an hour to get darshan because of the heavy crowd." With Eid just a day away, markets are a hive of business activities, with shoppers thronging readymade clothing and footwear stores.</p>.Yogi Adityanath orders non-stop Ramcharitmanas recitation in Uttar Pradesh temples on Chaitra Ramnavami.<p>"Markets are bustling with people due to Eid. Business is thriving, and sales have been excellent," Ehtesham Ahmad, president of the All India Industry and Trade Board in Sambhal, said.</p>.<p>Cloth merchant Aslam concurred, "This Eid has brought great business. Sales have been very good." In Varanasi, people made a beeline from early hours at temple gates.</p>.<p>Prominent temples, including Shailputri Temple, Durga Kund Temple, and Vishalakshi Devi Temple, have been decked up.</p>.<p>Sonu Jha, the priest of Durga Mata Temple at Durga Kund, said temple doors had been thrown open at dawn to let in the stream of devotees.</p>.<p>The deity was given a ceremonial 'Panch Gavya' bath in the morning, followed by an adorning with flowers and jewels.</p>.<p>Officials managing the Shailputri Temple said that in line with tradition, a visit to the Shailputri Goddess on the first day of Navratri holds special significance in Kashi.</p>.<p>Varanasi Assistant Commissioner of Police Vidush Saxena said that force has been deployed around temples for Navratri.</p>.<p>Officers are patrolling their areas, and additional forces, including PAC units, have been stationed at sensitive locations and those that are prone to crowding.</p>.<p>Drones have been deployed for air surveillance at key spots.</p>.<p>The Uttar Pradesh government has banned illegal slaughterhouses and meat sales near religious sites till April 6.</p>.<p>The government had on Saturday, citing similar bans in 2014 and 2017, issued strict orders to shut down illegal slaughterhouses and the sale of meat within a 500-metre radius of religious sites.</p>.<p>Animal slaughter and meat sales will be banned on the occasion of Ram Navami on April 6.</p>.<p>Under the UP Municipal Corporation Act, 1959, and Food Safety Acts of 2006 & 2011, the state government has directed officials to take strict action against violators. </p>
<p>Sambhal/Varanasi: Devotess on the first day of Navratri on Sunday thronged temples in Sambhal and Varanasi sending the markets abuzz with a religious fervidness ahead of Eid, which through its month-long run-up, has already primed sellers for an increased sales and footfall.</p>.<p>Tight security arrangements have been made to maintain peace and order in the state, which has seen communal confrontations in the recent past.</p>.<p>In Sambhal, devotees thronged the Chamunda Devi temple and the Durga temple at Rambagh Dham in Chandausi to offer prayers.</p>.<p>Chanchal Sunny Gupta, a municipal member from Ward 18, said, "There is enthusiasm among devotees in Sambhal. All temples have been cleaned, and the police have made excellent security arrangements." Bal Mukund Gupta, a devotee at Chamunda temple, said "It took me an hour to get darshan because of the heavy crowd." With Eid just a day away, markets are a hive of business activities, with shoppers thronging readymade clothing and footwear stores.</p>.Yogi Adityanath orders non-stop Ramcharitmanas recitation in Uttar Pradesh temples on Chaitra Ramnavami.<p>"Markets are bustling with people due to Eid. Business is thriving, and sales have been excellent," Ehtesham Ahmad, president of the All India Industry and Trade Board in Sambhal, said.</p>.<p>Cloth merchant Aslam concurred, "This Eid has brought great business. Sales have been very good." In Varanasi, people made a beeline from early hours at temple gates.</p>.<p>Prominent temples, including Shailputri Temple, Durga Kund Temple, and Vishalakshi Devi Temple, have been decked up.</p>.<p>Sonu Jha, the priest of Durga Mata Temple at Durga Kund, said temple doors had been thrown open at dawn to let in the stream of devotees.</p>.<p>The deity was given a ceremonial 'Panch Gavya' bath in the morning, followed by an adorning with flowers and jewels.</p>.<p>Officials managing the Shailputri Temple said that in line with tradition, a visit to the Shailputri Goddess on the first day of Navratri holds special significance in Kashi.</p>.<p>Varanasi Assistant Commissioner of Police Vidush Saxena said that force has been deployed around temples for Navratri.</p>.<p>Officers are patrolling their areas, and additional forces, including PAC units, have been stationed at sensitive locations and those that are prone to crowding.</p>.<p>Drones have been deployed for air surveillance at key spots.</p>.<p>The Uttar Pradesh government has banned illegal slaughterhouses and meat sales near religious sites till April 6.</p>.<p>The government had on Saturday, citing similar bans in 2014 and 2017, issued strict orders to shut down illegal slaughterhouses and the sale of meat within a 500-metre radius of religious sites.</p>.<p>Animal slaughter and meat sales will be banned on the occasion of Ram Navami on April 6.</p>.<p>Under the UP Municipal Corporation Act, 1959, and Food Safety Acts of 2006 & 2011, the state government has directed officials to take strict action against violators. </p>