FIFTY-ONE SHAKTIPEETHS in Uttar Pradesh witnessed a footfall of nearly two crore during the nine days of Shardiya Navratri, including 50 lakh at Vindhyavasini Dham in Mirzapur alone, the state government said on Wednesday. According to a government statement, Mirzapur’s Vindhyavasini temple, regarded as the state’s most prominent Siddhapeeth, witnessed a surge in devotees this Navratri. Against the usual 100,000–150,000 daily visitors, the shrine saw 400,000–500,000 devotees each day, with numbers touching 600,000–700,000 during the final three days. The newly built Vindhyachal Corridor eased the heavy footfall, offering pilgrims improved facilities and access. The data said that Maa Vishalakshi temple, one of the 51 Shaktipeeths, devotees’ numbers multiplied during Navratri compared to normal days. From Saptami to Navami, 20,000–30,000 devotees visited daily. At Gayatri Shakti Peeth Choura Devi temple in Varanasi, more than 100,000 devotees came until Navami, while at Maa Kushmanda temple in Durga Kund, more than 12 lakh devotees visited in nine days. In the past three days alone, around 200,000 visited daily. Western UP’s Saharanpur witnessed nearly seven lakh visiting Shakumbhari Dham and around four lakh offering prayers at the Tripur Bala Sundari temple. At Maa Pateshwari temple in Balrampur, nearly 650,000 devotees arrived this Navratri. The largest crowd gathered from Saptami to Navami. The temple management also organised a 15-day fair. During Navratri, Maa Alop Shankari Dham in Prayagraj witnessed a massive influx of devotees, with over 12 lakh people visiting the temple. To accommodate the large crowds, the government invested nearly Rs 6 crore in passenger sheds, lighting and beautification works. At the Tarkulha Devi temple in Gorakhpur, around 50,000 devotees visited daily, crossing 100,000 on Navami. So far, more than 500,000 devotees have visited. At Budhiya Mai temple in Kusmhi jungle, Gorakhpur, 500,000 devotees arrived. In the last three days of Navratri, about 100,000 devotees came daily. The government has spent crores on tourism development works here to enhance facilities. Around 40,000 people came to Hathiyaram Math in Ghazipur this Navratri, while at Kamakhya Devi temple, more than 100,000 devotees visited. Jaunpur’s Maa Sheetla Chaukiya temple remained packed during Navratri. Around 70,000 devotees came daily, and from Saptami to Navami, nearly 100,000 devotees visited daily. At Lalita Devi temple in the sacred land of Naimisharanya, more than 200,000 devotees came during the nine days of Navratri. Agra’s 300-year-old Chamunda Devi temple was a special attraction during Navratri. Nearly 200,000 devotees visited. Along with this, 15 lakh visited Kaila Mata temple, 200,000 at Sati Mata temple, 150,000 at Kali Mata temple, and 1 million at Sheetla Mata temple. At Nari Semari temple in Chhata, Mathura, 300,000 devotees came during Navratri. The traditions of erecting the idol and worship with sticks and lathis attracted devotees. At Panchkuiya, Kaimasan, Mahakali, and Lahar Devi temples in Jhansi, more than 100,000 devotees visited each during the nine days of Navratri. At Lehda Devi temple in Maharajganj, around 2 lakh devotees offered prayers. Around 2.5 lakh people visited the 15 temples in Auraiya. In Hapur, Siddharthnagar, and other districts as well, lakhs of devotees thronged the temples, the statement said.
