The revered Shri Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain experienced an extraordinary influx of pilgrims during the crucial year-end period. Over a span of twelve days, from December 25 to January 5, the ancient Jyotirlinga site welcomed a staggering wave of devotion, with more than 29 lakh visitors seeking blessings.
Massive Pilgrim Rush and Strategic Management
Anticipating the heavy footfall during the winter holidays, the temple management committee made comprehensive arrangements in advance. These preparations were aimed at streamlining the darshan process and ensuring a smoother experience for the millions of devotees. The temple's administrator, Pratham Kaushik, stated that their forecast of 10 lakh visitors on the last day of the old year and the first day of the new year was remarkably accurate.
The pilgrimage fervor peaked on January 1, the first day of 2025, when the temple recorded its highest single-day attendance of over 6.12 lakh devotees. In a contrasting trend, December 31, the last day of 2024, saw the lowest turnout of the period at 1.53 lakh visitors. To efficiently manage the enormous crowds, the committee initiated several measures, including starting additional service counters.
Prasad Distribution and Financial Collections
In a grand gesture of devotion, the temple committee distributed laddu prasad worth nearly Rs 4 crore to the pilgrims during these twelve days. The distribution was carried out on a strict no-profit, no-loss basis. The total quantity of laddus given away was a massive 643.409 quintals.
This included:
- 573.118 quintals of besan laddus, valued at approximately Rs 2.73 crore.
- 70.291 quintals of ragi laddus, with an estimated worth of Rs 32.50 lakh.
To facilitate easy access to the prasad, a 24-hour counter was established near the Harsiddhi Temple, and an additional counter was opened at the Neelkanth Dwar.
Revenue from Darshan and Peak Earnings
The temple's financial receipts from the quick darshan system during this period amounted to Rs 5.39 crore. The revenue pattern mirrored the visitor count, with significant daily variations. The highest single-day collection was recorded on December 26, amounting to Rs 69.65 lakh. Interestingly, despite having the highest footfall on January 1, the day registered the lowest collection from the quick darshan system at Rs 16.90 lakh, indicating a possible preference for general darshan queues on the auspicious New Year day.
The successful management of this record-breaking pilgrimage season highlights the temple administration's planning capabilities and the unwavering faith of devotees who throng to one of India's most sacred Shiva shrines during spiritually significant times.
