Varanasi: Unfazed devotees attend Ganga aarti

Unfazed by the twin blasts that rocked Varanasi, thousands of devotees attended the colourful Ganga aarti amidst unprecedented security at the famous Dashashwamedh Ghat on the banks of the holy Ganges in Varanasi Wednesday evening.

• 2 blasts rock Varanasi; 20 dead

Signalling life as usual, nearly 5,000 devotees, including foreigners, watched Wednesday's aarti performed by priest Satyendra Mishra as a posse of security personnel kept vigil, police sources said.

Enthusiastic devotees sang bhajans describing the religious importance of the Ganges.

There was no panic or tension among the devotees who calmly participated in the Ganga aarti that lasted for a little over an hour.

The Ganga aarti is a regular feature and is performed daily and attended by thousands of devotees.

Police sources said additional security forces would remain deployed during the Ganga aarti for the next few days.