The holy month of Shravan 2025 has set new benchmarks in Uttar Pradesh’s religious tourism, drawing record-breaking numbers of pilgrims and boosting the state’s economy. From the ghats of Varanasi to historic temples in Lucknow, Barabanki, Bagpat, and Hapur, the state witnessed an extraordinary influx of devotees, reaffirming its position as India’s spiritual capital. The confluence of faith, culture, and commerce was visible across every major pilgrimage site, as chants of “Har Har Mahadev” filled the air and local markets thrived.
Varanasi’s Shri Kashi Vishwanath Dham saw a 10% rise in pilgrim numbers compared to last year, averaging 70,000–82,000 visitors daily, with Mondays witnessing the highest footfall. In Lucknow, Mankameshwar Temple drew 15,000–20,000 visitors daily, while Budheshwar Temple recorded over 20,000 devotees on Mondays and Wednesdays. Barabanki’s Lodheswar Mahadev Temple welcomed nearly 1.2 million devotees during the month, and Bagpat’s Shravan Mela attracted about 1.4 million visitors, peaking at 500,000 in a single day. Garhmukteshwar Ghat in Hapur saw more than 100,000 kanwariyas, and Lakhimpur Kheri’s Gola Gokaran Nath Temple recorded between 800,000 and 1 million pilgrims.
According to the Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department, Lucknow alone hosted around 350,000 hotel guests in July 2025, including 5,000 foreign visitors. Traditional fairs drew 604,000 people, cultural events welcomed over 49,000 attendees, and festivals saw nearly 16,700 participants. Traders also benefited from the spiritual surge, with Varanasi’s Dalmandi market reporting a fivefold increase in sales, especially of “Mahakal”-themed merchandise.
Tourism and Culture Minister Jaiveer Singh hailed Shravan 2025 as “a golden chapter” in the state’s cultural and economic history, emphasizing world-class facilities, safety, and smooth crowd management. Large-scale preparations, including purified drinking water, clean toilets, first-aid centres, upgraded roads, lighting, resting facilities for kanwariyas, and temple beautification, ensured a seamless pilgrimage experience. Principal Secretary for Tourism and Culture, Mukesh Kumar Meshram, credited meticulous planning for the festival’s success, highlighting improvements in temple management, transportation, and security.
The celebrations not only strengthened Uttar Pradesh’s image as a top religious tourism destination but also created thousands of seasonal jobs in hospitality, transport, and retail. Pilgrims came from across the country and abroad, making Shravan 2025 a milestone in showcasing how faith, infrastructure, and planning can transform a festival into a major driver of tourism and economic growth.
