Ayodhya experienced an extraordinary influx of visitors on the first day of the New Year, as the newly built Ram Mandir attracted millions of pilgrims. The temple, which was consecrated on January 22 the previous year, became the focal point for devotees eager to offer their prayers. Local authorities estimated that over 2 million pilgrims had already arrived by New Year’s Eve, with an additional 3 million people pouring into the city on New Year’s Day to see the idol of Ram Lalla, which was unveiled at sunrise.
Champat Rai, General Secretary of the Ram Temple Trust, linked the record turnout to the global celebration of the Gregorian New Year, the winter season, and the closure of schools and courts. He added that Ayodhya is fast becoming a prime pilgrimage destination, surpassing more traditional tourist spots like Goa and Shimla.
To manage the large crowds, the Ayodhya administration split the city into various sectors and zones, deploying significant police forces for crowd control. Traffic was closely monitored, with regular vehicle inspections. The influx of visitors started the evening before, with over 2 million pilgrims completing their darshan by Tuesday night. Hotels, dharamshalas, and homestays in the town were fully booked, accommodating both local and outstation visitors.
The Hanumangarhi temple also saw continuous crowds, with a steady flow of devotees from morning aarti until the evening shayan aarti. In response to the heavy turnout, the administration set up 10 additional visitor galleries along the Ram Janmabhoomi path, doubling the darshan lines from 10 to 20. To ensure the safety of the pilgrims, strict security measures were put in place.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Ashutosh Tiwari revealed that the city was divided into 7 security sectors and 24 zones, each managed by senior officers. To assist with crowd control, drones were deployed to monitor high-traffic areas, and stringent measures were in place to prevent congestion and ensure public safety.
