From 45 lakh to over 32 lakh, footfall at Ambaji temple records dip compared to last year

Banaskantha district collector Mihir P Patel told The Indian Express: “There could be several reasons for the decline in footfall. One could be that a large number of devotees visit through several Sanghs (groups) from the northern belt of Mehsana and Patan. A similar mela was organised in Umiya Mata Temple in Unjha during the same period which might have contributed to the drop.” “The recent flood situations in Vadodara and Surat might have also affected the number of pilgrims as most of the devotees travel on foot,” Patel said.

Arvindbhai Somabhai Patel, media committee chairman of Umiya temple, said, “This is the first time a grand Dhwaja Mahotsav (flag hoisting) was organised at Unjha temple from September 12-18.”

“Around 15-16 lakh devotees are estimated to have visited during this time and at least 13,000 flags were hoisted during the event.”

Officials from district administration said even though the number of pilgrims has gone down compared to last year, all other numbers have either remained the same or increased.

“For instance, the prasad and donations increased this year. As against Rs 2.36 crore donation received last year, this year it is Rs 2.66 crore. Devotees who availed prasad from the temple have also increased from last year’s 18 lakh to over 19 lakh this time. So the pilgrim footfall might have gone down but the other numbers increased,” the collector added.

On the last day of the Mahamela on Wednesday, Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi accompanied by DGP Vikas Sahai and other senior police officials participated in the ‘Dhwaja’ (flag hoisting) ceremony. Generally, the  Banaskantha police personnel perform the ceremony on the last day of Mahamela.

The fair was managed by the Main Police Control Room at Khodivali Circle near Ambaji Temple. Sanghavi appreciated the police “for managing the mela”. For the fair, the state administration along with donors and other organisations had provided security, food, water, medical services and dome facility for devotees at several places where a footfall of more than 5.19 lakh pilgrims was recorded, according to the state government data.

Three huge domes were set up around the temple for pilgrims coming on foot and over 72,000 devotees used the facility. More than 20 lakh devotees partook the famous mohanthal prasad. At least 61,699 devotees took the cable car for Gabbar ‘jyot’ hillock, according to the information.

The state transport department had also started buses for the devotees and over 5.04 lakh pilgrims availed the service with a total of 11,455 trips during the festival. This time the state government had also launched a new initiative ‘Our Gujarat, Plastic Free Gujarat’. To achieve this, Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) collected the waste generated and disposed it off scientifically.

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