Uttar Pradesh’s Shravan 2025 Breaks Records in Faith and Tourism

The holy month of Shravan in 2025 has gone down as a landmark in Uttar Pradesh’s spiritual calendar, attracting millions of devotees and setting new records for religious tourism. From Varanasi’s ancient ghats to the Shiva temples of Lucknow, chants of Har Har Mahadev filled the air as pilgrims thronged shrines, fairs, and riverbanks in unprecedented numbers.

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.”

Temples reported a dramatic rise in daily visitors. Lucknow’s Mankameshwar Temple saw numbers soar from a usual 5,000–6,000 to over 15,000–20,000 during Shravan, while Budheshwar Temple welcomed over 20,000 worshippers every Monday and Wednesday. Barabanki’s Lodheswar Mahadev Temple hosted nearly 1.2 million devotees over the month, peaking at 300,000 in a single day. In Bagpat, the Shravan Mela drew about 1.4 million people, with more than 500,000 attending in a day, and Hapur’s Garhmukteshwar Ghat saw over 100,000 kanwariyas carrying Ganga water.

Varanasi’s Kashi Vishwanath Dham remained the epicentre of devotion, recording a more than 10 per cent increase in footfall compared to last year, with 70,000–82,000 daily visitors and even higher numbers on Mondays. The city’s robust infrastructure upgrades ensured smooth crowd management.

Lucknow’s tourism sector also thrived. July 2025 data from the state’s tourism department revealed that 350,000 tourists stayed in the city’s hotels during Shravan, including nearly 5,000 foreign travellers. Fairs drew over 604,000 people, while cultural events attracted thousands more, reinforcing the city’s growing profile as a hub for religious and cultural tourism.

Markets mirrored the fervour of the temples. Varanasi’s Dalmandi traders reported sales up nearly fivefold, with “Mahakal” themed T-shirts topping the charts. Seasonal vendors, eateries, and transport operators saw booming business, generating thousands of temporary jobs and bringing prosperity to both rural and urban communities.

The state government, in coordination with local administrations, ensured that the massive gatherings were well supported. Facilities such as purified drinking water, clean toilets, first-aid centres, improved pathways, enhanced lighting, and resting points for kanwariyas elevated the pilgrim experience.

With pilgrims arriving from across India and abroad, Shravan 2025 has reaffirmed Uttar Pradesh’s standing as the nation’s spiritual heartland, showing how faith, heritage, and planning can drive both devotion and development.

Principal Secretary for Tourism and Culture, Mukesh Kumar Meshram, said, “The extraordinary crowds of Shravan 2025 are living proof of the success of our religious tourism strategy. From temple management to transport, security, and amenities, preparations were made with meticulous attention to detail to ensure every pilgrim enjoyed a safe, seamless, and unforgettable spiritual experience.”