Uttarakhand pilgrims ascend; a panel will control foot traffic
Uttarakhand, Dehradun: The state government has formed a panel led by additional chief secretary (ACS) Anand Bardhan to prepare a draft report on management of not only Char Dham but “all major religious events in the Himalayan state” due to the surprisingly high number of pilgrims visiting Uttarakhand this year. Seven crore pilgrims came here last year; this year, close to ten crore are anticipated.
Uttarakhand Pilgrimage to Kashi Vishwanath temple up 48% in first five months
In the first five months of 2024, almost 2.86 crore pilgrims visited the Kashi Vishwanath temple, a 48% increase over 2023. The temple’s revenue increased by 33 percent as a result of development and better facilities, which made it a popular destination for religious tourists.
As the Hajj trip comes to an end in the sweltering heat, Muslim pilgrims resume the symbolic stoning of the devil.
During the Eid ul-Adha holiday, Muslim pilgrims in Mina carried out the Hajj pilgrimage, which included stoning the devil. Following the stoning of devil-representing pillars in Mina, close to Mecca, the ceremony include circling the Kaaba. One of the Five Pillars of Islam is the Hajj.
At the peak of the Hajj, Muslims offer prayers atop Mount Arafat.
In the sweltering heat, almost 1.5 million Muslims assembled at Mount Arafat for the annual hajj pilgrimage, where they offered prayers for the Palestinians in Gaza. The event also brought attention to issues related to climate change, worldwide support for peace initiatives, and solidarity with the Palestinian people.
