Source: NDTV.com
GANDHINAGAR, INDIA, October 7, 2001: Thirteen days after the gates of the Akshardham Swaminarayan Temple were closed since the September 24 terrorists’ attack, devotees were allowed inside on the first day of Navaratri today. “The gates were thrown open at 9:34 am after the traditional arati and shanti paath in presence of senior saint, Sant Ishwarcharan Swami,” a spokesman of the temple said. Armed CRPF personnel stood guarding at strategic locations to ensure safety and security for the devotees. Prior to September 24, arms were not allowed inside the 25 acre temple premises, considered a premier pilgrimage center in the region. In the wake of the attack, the Gujarat government has made unprecedented security arrangements for the nine-day Navaratri festival beginning today. A major attraction during the Navaratri celebrations is the folk dance of garba. But garba organizers say their biggest problem is not security, but the 10 pm deadline set by the police for using loud speakers in their functions. Many of the garba organizers in the state have pulled out due to the heavy security arrangements required and the deadline. The state government has deployed more than 50,000 police as well as State Reserve Police and para-military forces to make sure that the festival celebrations go off peacefully.