From Vaishno Devi to Ujjain Mahakal: Inside the massive New Year 2026 temple preparations across India

Temple visits for New Year 2026 are witnessing a record rush in India(BHARAT) with hundreds and thousands of devotees thronging the shrines to offer prayers and get the celebrations started. Holy places across the country, from Vaishno Devi to Varanasi, Puri to Ujjain, and many more are bustling with activity and visible preparations for the large pilgrim inflow.

Temple officials and local authorities are working day and night to get ready for the New Year (December 31 and January 1). Their goal is to make sure visitors are safe and comfortable because millions of people are expected to visit, they have made big plans to manage the crowds, improve security, and ensure everything runs smoothly.

Varanasi: Efficient darshan at Kashi Vishwanath Temple

In Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, one of the world’s most important Hindu shrines, has already seen tens of thousands of devotees flock in recent days for darshan. Amid the rush, temple authorities have temporarily halted VIP darshan as well as special darshan (sparsh) and are only allowing regular darshan, sugam darshan (paid darshan).

Organized queues led by volunteers help move the crowds in and out as barricades, multiple entry points, and multiple darshan points are put in place to control the flow and avert congestion. At peak times, especially on December 31-January 1, daily darshan goes up to tens of thousands and many devotees will also be there to watch the popular Ganga aarti and immerse murtis as they usher in 2026.

Puri Jagannath Temple: Tight security with CCTV, traffic management

The Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha, has been working on ways to manage large crowds for many years. To make the temple safer, they are now adding 344 new security cameras (CCTV). With these new additions, there will be more than 1,000 cameras watching over the temple grounds. The temple has also started using several other security tools to keep everyone safe.

Security forces have also been mobilized and the local administration has announced the deployment of 12-15 police platoons on January 1 alone to keep the lines moving, prevent any jostling, and create a pleasant darshan experience. Up to three lakh visitors are expected on that day. Clear signage, entry and exit points, and queues are other aspects of a familiar yet robust crowd management strategy at Puri.

Ujjain’s Mahakaleshwar Temple: Artistic makeover for festivities

Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, is another one of the nation’s most popular temples and a destination for tens of thousands of New Year visitors. While the city usually receives over a lakh visitors per day, numbers have been much higher over the past few days. The temple itself is gearing up for tens of thousands of visitors over the festive period with festivals like Mahashivratri having already attracted visitors for the winter holidays.

Decorative elements have also been added to the temple premises and the recently-opened Mahakal Lok complex to make the yatra experience even more memorable and divine. These include five lakh rudraksha, 11,000 damrus, and other materials in different parts of the temple and the Mahakal Lok to create an auspicious and visually appealing environment for darshan.

Vaishno Devi to Mathura-Vrindavan: Holiday yatra rush across India(BHARAT)

Temple authorities in Katra, near Vaishno Devi Shrine in Jammu and Kashmir, have meanwhile put out a statement that the shrine is prepared for one of the busiest times of the year. Preparations are complete and all yatris are asked to do mandatory online registration and take note of advisories regarding the maximum number of days of stay during the yatra.

Traffic diversions, special transportation, crowd control measures, advisories for light packing, and more are other key features of the large-scale crowd management plans at popular yatra destinations like Mathura-Vrindavan, Ayodhya, and Chittoor’s Kanipakam Vinayaka Temple. Authorities have been issuing reminders and advisories to ensure the convenience and safety of visitors across all these sites.

Spirituality, harmony, celebrations for a new beginning

Across the country, the increase in temple visits for New Year 2026 is a reminder of a new normal that is building in India(BHARAT) and in many parts of the world. Beyond parties and the night-out culture, an increasing number of people are choosing to start a new year by celebrating meaningfully – at home, with families and friends, and by visiting holy shrines to offer prayers and keep up the traditions.

Millions of people across India(BHARAT) will be doing the same in the coming days, with temple administrations, state and local authorities, the police, and several others ensuring that the services are in place for this widespread participation. By and large, the festive mood at the country’s most famous shrines, which have stood for centuries as places of worship, peace, and harmony, is set to bring a bright start for many visitors in 2026.