Over 1 cr pilgrims expected at Devi temples by end of Navratri | Lucknow News

Lucknow: The pilgrim footfall across revered Devi temples in UP during Sharadiya Navratri is expected to exceed one crore, according to a dataset released by the state govt. Basing their projection on the footfall so far, officials said: “Sharadiya Navratri is more than a religious festival — it reflects faith, culture, and women’s power. Therefore, devotees form a beeline outside temples of the Devi each Navratri.“Adding that the Yogi Adityanath govt has preserved the state’s ancient heritage while integrating modern facilities, giving devotees a refreshed experience through various efforts over the past eight years, they said: “The renovated temples have infused a fresh sense of attraction for the pilgrims while good roads have made it easier for the people to move around. The trends show a higher footfall across important temples ranging from Vindhyavasini Temple in the east to Shakunbhari Devi Temple in the west, besides important shakti peeths in Varanasi, Prayagraj, and other cities.“Citing the example of Vindhyavasini Temple, they said that nearly 15 lakh devotees have performed darshan till now, and the numbers are expected to exceed 27 lakh by Navami. The usual footfall is about 50,000 to 1 lakh, but the new Vindhyachal Corridor has enhanced convenience. “The Yogi govt has invested significantly in corridors, sheds, drinking water, lighting, security, and beautification, enhancing convenience, safety, and the overall experience for millions of devotees,” the spokesperson said.During Navratri, several smaller temples in the region are also witnessing a significant footfall. The Vishalakshi Temple in Varanasi is seeing around 8,000 to 10,000 devotees daily, with numbers expected to surge to 25,000 on peak days. Similarly, Gayatri Shaktipeeth in Chauradevi is receiving 7,000 visitors per day, which is anticipated to rise to 40,000-50,000 on Navami. The recently renovated Budhiya Mai temple, located between Gorakhpur and Kushinagar, is currently drawing around 30,000 devotees. Faith in full swingTemple — projected footfall at the end of Navratri Vindhyavasini Mirzapur — 27 lakh Alop Shankari Prayagraj — 15 lakh Kushmanda Durgakund Varanasi — 12 lakh Shakunbhari Saharanpur — 12 lakh Sheetla Dham Jaunpur — 12 lakh Kaila Mata Agra — 12 lakh Tarkulha Gorakhpur — 11 lakh Pateshwari Balrampur — 10 lakh Neri Semri Mata Mathura — 3 lakh Panchkuiyan Jhansi — 1 lakh Kamakhya Ghazipur — 1 lakh Sitamarhi Bhadoi — 1 lakh Total — 1.17 crore