"They have come walking, in overcrowded buses, in trucks, or whatever other mode of transport available, for the Baba's 62nd annual Bhandara. The 4-day Satsang continued till Friday," said Indramani from Bahraich, who had come with a bus load of Baba's admirers.

 The road traffic-jammed for most part of the day and late evenings, causing delays and furious reactions from tourists bound for Agra. "To cross just a kilometre stretch of the highway opposite the grand Taj Mahal-like white marble-built temple, called Naam Yog Sadhna Mandir, it could take anything between an hour or two," said taxi driver Ramesh heading for Palam airport with foreign tourists.

 The Baba who came into prominence for his definace of the regime during the emergency, has a fanatic following. "They come burdened with their baggage and bear all the hardships and discomforts in this cruel cold weather, but their faith in the Baba is intense and unshakeable," says Murari the halwai selling jalebi outside the Mela ground.

 Men, women, children, guided by "swayam Sevaks", queue up quietly for their turn to enter the temple.

The Baba has acquired huge chunks of land on both sides of the highway and he wants more. In his first discourse on December 13, he counselled the state government to allot more land for his ashram, as he was doing a great job educating and sensiting people on ethics and socioeconomic problems facing the country.

"When he speaks each word is taken note of in rapt attention and followers feel blessed to hear and have a darshan of the ageing Baba whose charisma remains undiminised over the years," according to dhaba owner Munishwar.