Over 1 Million Devotees Offer Jal at Baba Baidyanath Dham in First Week of Shravani Mela

More than one million devotees offered holy water at Baba Baidyanath Dham during the first week of the State Shravani Mela 2026, with authorities stepping up security and civic arrangements in anticipation of an even larger influx in the coming weeks.

According to figures released during a weekly press briefing on Thursday, 1,005,885 pilgrims performed Jal Arpan at the temple between July 30 and August 4. Of them, 23,130 devotees used the Sheeghra Darshan coupon facility.

Deputy Commissioner Saurabh Kumar Bhuvaniya and Superintendent of Police Praveen Pushkar jointly briefed the media at the temporary media centre at R.L. Sarraf. The Deputy Commissioner said the administration's primary objective was to ensure that pilgrims could complete their visit safely and return home with a positive experience.

Temple revenue crosses Rs 8.6 million

The Baba Baidyanath Temple generated revenue of Rs 8.685 million between July 30 and August 4 from various sources, according to the administration.

Revenue from Sheeghra Darshan coupons alone stood at Rs 7.228 million, making it a major contributor to the temple's earnings during the opening week.

Bhuvaniya also thanked the media and various government departments for their cooperation in managing the large-scale religious gathering.

Extensive security arrangements

Authorities have deployed 597 magistrates and administrative officers and 6,763 police personnel across the mela area.

The security apparatus includes four Superintendents of Police, three CRPF companies, and teams from the NDRF and SDRF. Surveillance is being conducted through 925 CCTV cameras, including 225 AI-enabled cameras, as well as five drones.

The administration has also established 21 temporary police outposts and 13 traffic outposts. ATS personnel, Rapid Action Force teams, bomb disposal units, dog squads and Quick Response Teams have been deployed at strategic locations.

Police have also recovered several lost mobile phones from the temple premises and arrested a number of people allegedly involved in pickpocketing.

Healthcare and accommodation expanded

Pilgrim accommodation has been arranged at 77 locations. Three tent cities together have a capacity of 2,750 beds, while Adhyatmik Bhavan can accommodate another 700 devotees.

The Health Department has established 35 temporary medical centres, where 33,224 patients have received treatment so far. Medical services are being supported by 111 doctors, 470 paramedical personnel, 16 general ambulances, 24 emergency ambulances and six support vehicles.

The Drinking Water and Sanitation Department has installed 48 bathing facilities, 323 toilets, 16 mist showers, 76 hand pumps and nine drinking water kiosks across the mela area.

Thousands assisted through information and lost-and-found services

The Information and Public Relations Department has established 34 information centres to assist pilgrims.

A total of 15,549 lost-and-found cases have been registered, with 10,242 pilgrims successfully reunited with their families.

Visitors are also being encouraged to explore the themed exhibition at Shivlok Complex, which features replicas inspired by the Amarnath Cave and Srikalahasti Temple. The attraction also includes water projection and laser shows, virtual reality experiences and LED presentations highlighting the mythology associated with Baba Baidyanath.

More pilgrims expected in coming weeks

The Municipal Corporation had collected more than Rs 10.65 million in revenue up to August 5, while the Electricity Department generated Rs 2.941 million through temporary power connections.

The electricity authorities have also established 39 control centres and emergency response teams to deal with any disruptions during the mela.

Officials expect the number of pilgrims to rise significantly during the remaining three Mondays of Shravan. In view of the anticipated rush, the district administration and police have further strengthened arrangements for crowd control, traffic management, security, healthcare, accommodation and essential services.

The briefing was also attended by Deputy Development Commissioner Piyush Sinha, Municipal Commissioner Sulochana Meena, Sub-Divisional Officer and Temple In-charge Ravi Kumar, along with officials from various departments and media representatives.

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