Himachal Pradesh witnessed a record-breaking influx of pilgrims this Navratri, with more than 14.15 lakh devotees thronging the revered Shakti Peeths across the state between March 30 and April 5, according to data released by the state police on Sunday. The scale of the turnout reaffirmed the spiritual magnetism of Himachal's temple circuit, even as the administration earned praise for its seamless management of massive crowds and traffic.
The iconic Jwala Ji temple in Kangra district emerged as the most visited shrine, attracting a staggering 5.63 lakh devotees during the nine-day religious festival. Following closely was the Mata Bala Sundri temple in Sirmaur, which saw 2.77 lakh pilgrims, while the Naina Devi temple in Bilaspur hosted 2.52 lakh faithful. Other major temples that recorded significant footfall include Chintpurni temple in Una, registering 1,00,800 visitors; Baglamukhi temple in Kangra with 81,975 pilgrims; Chamunda Devi temple in Kangra with 70,000 visitors; and Brijeshwari Devi temple in Kangra with 68,650 visitors.
On April 3 alone, over 1.24 lakh devotees offered prayers across these Shakti Peeths, underscoring the enduring devotion and reverence associated with Navratri celebrations.
A logistical feat matched the spiritual fervour. As per traffic data, the temple towns collectively welcomed 12,311 heavy motor vehicles, 51,123 light motor vehicles, and 40,413 two-wheelers during this period. Despite this overwhelming movement, traffic remained largely smooth, thanks to the round-the-clock deployment and coordination between the state police, temple trusts, and local administrations.
A statement issued by the Himachal Pradesh Police headquarters lauded the efforts of all stakeholders. “Their effective coordination ensured crowd control, road safety, and a peaceful environment for lakhs of pilgrims,” read the statement.
Additionally, officials confirmed that offerings worth crores of rupees, including gold and silver, were made by devotees during the festival. Temple management committees are now preparing to compile final donation figures and plan further improvements based on this year's experience.
