Devotees thronged the Hanuman Temple Meerganj locality of the city after the news spread that Lord Hanuman’s deity was shedding tears, shrine officials said on Saturday.
People started visiting the temple since early morning to watch the ‘miracle’. “The devotees started chanting ‘Hanuman Chalisa’, Ram Dhun and devotional songs after witnessing the miracle.” temple priest Rajbhawan Pandey aka Bhola Pandit told HT.
The priest said he spotted what appeared like ‘tears’ flowing from the eyes of Lord Hanuman’s deity when he reached the temple in the morning. “The news spread like wildfire after which devotees started arriving from near and far,” he added.

People throng the temple to see the idol. (HT Photo)

Policemen from the local outpost also reached the temple to control the crowd and avert any untoward situation.
“A proper study is required to identify the reason for the ‘tears’. Presence of mercuric oxide in vermillion which is usually applied in multiple layers on the idols of Lord Hanuman all over the country may be behind the phenomenon. Mercuric oxide can absorb water without dissolving in it. Once saturation point is reached, the excess water starts rolling down the idol which may be taken as ‘tears’. However, the process will be visible for a short duration,” said Jagdamba Singh, professor of chemistry at Allahabad University.