Shravan 2025 saw record breaking pilgrim turnout: Tourism and culture minister Jaiveer Singh

Uttar Pradesh's tourism department said the holy month of Shravan in 2025 witnessed an 'unprecedented' surge of faith and festivities across Uttar Pradesh, shattering all previous records in religious tourism.

The department stated that at Lucknow’s famed Mankameshwar Temple, daily pilgrim numbers rose from an average of 5,000–6,000 to over 15,000–20,000 during Shravan. At Budheshwar Temple, footfall crossed 20,000 every Monday and Wednesday. Barabanki’s Lodheswar Mahadev Temple welcomed nearly 1.2 million devotees, with Mondays drawing up to 300,000 people.

Bagpat’s Shravan Mela attracted approximately 1.4 million visitors, with over 500,000 arriving in a single day. More than 100,000 kanwariyas carried Ganga water from Hapur’s Garhmukteshwar Ghat, while Lakhimpur Kheri’s Gola Gokaran Nath Temple saw between 800,000 and 1 million visitors.


"Varanasi’s Shri Kashi Vishwanath Dham remained the crown jewel of Shravan celebrations. Estimates suggest footfall rose over 10% compared to last year, averaging 70,000–82,000 visitors daily, peaking on Mondays. The increase reflects not only the city’s spiritual magnetism but also the state’s successful efforts in facilities and crowd management," the state's tourism department said in a statement.

According to July 2025 figures from the Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department, Shravan month saw a massive upswing in tourism-linked activity in Lucknow. Around 350,000 tourists stayed at hotels, including nearly 5,000 foreign visitors. Traditional fairs drew over 604,000 people, while cultural events and festivals saw participation from about 49,200 and 16,700 visitors respectively.

Tourism and Culture Minister Jaiveer Singh said Shravan 2025 has gone down as a 'golden chapter' in Uttar Pradesh’s religious, cultural, and economic life. "Record-breaking pilgrim turnout has reaffirmed that UP is India’s foremost religious tourism hub. We ensured that every devotee enjoyed an uninterrupted, safe, and fulfilling experience while significantly strengthening infrastructure at pilgrimage sites," he added.