Varanasi/Prayagraj:, Aug. 11 -- Shiva temples in Varanasi and Prayagraj witnessed large crowds on the second Monday of Sawan, with devotees arriving from Sunday night to offer Jalabhishek and prayers amid chants of 'Har Har Mahadev'. In Varanasi, large crowds thronged the Kashi Vishwanath Temple and other major Shiva shrines. Baba Vishwanath was adorned in the special Gauri-Shankar (Shankar-Parvati) form. Officials showered flower petals on devotees walking towards the shrine. Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust CEO Vishwa Bhushan Mishra said zigzag barricading had been extended across a larger area of the temple complex to reduce queues on roads. Additional shelters, air coolers, RO drinking water, ORS and other facilities were provided, while three medical aid centres and free ambulances were deployed. Large crowds were also reported at temples of Mritunjay Mahadev, Gauri Kedareshwar, Tilbhandeshwar, Shooltankeshwar, Markandey Mahadev, Sarangnath Mahadev and the Vishwanath temple at BHU. Police divided the city into five zones and 15 sectors for crowd and security management. Fire tenders, QRTs, lost-and-found centres, medical facilities, ambulances and designated parking areas were also arranged. District magistrate Satyendra Kumar inspected arrangements at the Kashi Vishwanath temple and interacted with Kanwariyas and reviewed facilities. He also monitored security through CCTV from the control room. In Prayagraj, thousands of devotees visited the Mankameshwar Mahadev temple on the Yamuna banks, with queues stretching nearly a kilometre. Jalabhishek and other rituals began around 4 am after the temple opened in the early hours. A special Shringar of Lord Shiva was held on Sunday evening, followed by an offering of Chhappan Bhog comprising 56 varieties of delicacies. Temple Mahant Brahmachari Shridharanand Maharaj said the shrine, referred to as Kameshwar in religious texts, is traditionally associated with Lord Ram, who is believed to have performed Jalabhishek there during his exile. The administration deployed additional police personnel and installed barricades and CCTV cameras. Separate queues were arranged for men and women, with a dedicated exit route for women devotees. The traditional horse cart race, or Gehrebazi, was also held on Arail Road on Monday evening, with nearly a dozen participants. The race is held every Monday during Sawan in Prayagraj....