An estimated 6.5 crore (65 million) devotees from across India converged on the holy town of Mathura over the past month to celebrate Purushottam Maas. This month-long spiritual festival, also known as Adhik Maas, began on May 17 and concluded peacefully on June 15.
Pilgrimage and Parikramas
Over the course of 30 days, millions of pilgrims offered prayers at various prominent temples across the Braj region and participated in traditional circumambulations (parikramas). Data reveals that the highest influx of pilgrims was recorded along the famous Braj Chaurasi Kos Parikrama. Roughly three crore devotees completed the grueling 252-kilometre-long journey, which maps out numerous sacred sites tied to Lord Krishna throughout the region.
Simultaneously, the seven-kosi Govardhan Parikrama saw a turnout of over 2.5 crore devotees. Local authorities noted that a significant number of residents from neighboring areas joined the Govardhan walk multiple times over the month. Massive crowds were also recorded at the Ladli Ji temple in Barsana, dedicated to Radha Rani, as well as core temple zones across Mathura and Vrindavan city limits.
Logistical Management
Managing a floating population of this scale posed a massive logistical hurdle. Mathura district magistrate CP Singh noted that while the sheer volume of arrivals tested the administration’s readiness, the entire month passed peacefully with only a few minor incidents reported.
SP (Rural) Suresh Chand Rawat emphasised that the successful handling of over 6.5 crore pilgrims was the result of meticulous planning and coordinated enforcement. Approximately 50 inspectors, 60 sub-inspectors and nearly 350 police constables were deployed across high-congestion zones.
Security Measures
Police set up 88 strategic barricades along major walking routes to stream crowd flow. Specialized parking lots were designated outside main temple perimeters to keep vehicular traffic from disrupting pedestrian pilgrim lines.
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