Krishna Janmashtami was celebrated with religious fervour across Ramban district of Jammu and Kashmir, with grand Shobha Yatras drawing thousands of devotees on Saturday.

Men, women and children participated in the celebrations in Ramban, Batote, Chanderkote and other parts of the district. The processions featured decorated Jhankis, devotional chants and traditional drum beats. 

At Ramban district headquarters, Shobha Yatras were taken out from various temples and passed through Shan Palace, Court Road, Upper Bazaar, Bus Stand, Lower Maitra, Upper Maitra and Masjid Market before culminating at Raghunath Mandir in Bowali Bazaar.

Special poojas were performed at temples before the processions began. The decorated tableaux depicting religious themes were accompanied by devotees chanting slogans and playing traditional drums.

Temples and prominent locations across the district were decorated for the festival. Locals welcomed the Jhankis at different points along the route, with flowers being showered as the procession passed through the town. 

A large number of devotees also gathered at Raghunath Mandir, where prayers were offered to Lord Krishna and Radha. Religious activities continued at temples across the district throughout the day.

The Ramban district administration made security and civic arrangements for the peaceful conduct of the celebrations. Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Alyas Khan supervised the arrangements, while senior civil and police officials accompanied the procession and monitored the situation.

Similar Shobha Yatras were organised in Batote and Chanderkote, where devotees and local residents participated in the celebrations amid devotional music and religious chants. 

gion. Udhampur also witnessed a large procession, with children dressed as Lord Krishna and Radha and tableaux depicting episodes associated with Krishna's life. 

MP/CG Relevance: There is no direct Madhya Pradesh or Chhattisgarh connection. The report is relevant as a national religious and cultural news development from Jammu and Kashmir.

The holy city of Ujjain is preparing to witness a record-breaking surge of pilgrims during the upcoming Shravan-Bhadau season, as advance railway bookings for August and September have already surpassed previous years' figures. Anticipating an average of nearly 95,000 passengers every day, the Indian Railways is introducing several crowd-management measures, including a one-way traffic system at Ujjain Railway Station, drone surveillance, additional trains, and enhanced security arrangements.

According to railway officials, the special arrangements will remain in place during the Shravan-Bhadau period, scheduled from July 30 to September 7, when lakhs of devotees are expected to visit the famous Shri Mahakaleshwar Temple for darshan.

Advance Bookings Break Previous Records

Railway data indicates that Ujjain Railway Station usually handles around 72,000 passengers daily under normal conditions. However, advance ticket reservations for the upcoming pilgrimage season have already crossed 95,000 passengers per day, reflecting a sharp rise in the number of devotees planning to visit the city.

Officials believe this year's pilgrimage could become the busiest in recent years, largely due to the growing popularity of Mahakal Lok, which has significantly increased tourist and pilgrim footfall since its inauguration.

One-Way Traffic System to Be Introduced

For the first time during the Shravan season, Ujjain Railway Station is expected to operate under a one-way passenger movement system to reduce congestion.

According to Railway Protection Force (RPF) Station In-charge Narendra Yadav, a proposal has been submitted to the railway division for approval. Under the proposed plan:

• Passengers will enter the station through Platform No. 1.
• Exit will be allowed through Platform No. 8.
• Entry from the goods yard side will remain completely closed.

The move is aimed at ensuring smoother passenger flow and preventing overcrowding at the station premises during peak hours.

Six Additional Trains on Bhopal Route

Railway authorities have also announced plans to operate six additional trains, particularly on the Bhopal-Ujjain route, which witnesses the highest number of pilgrims during the holy month.

Officials say passenger traffic has consistently increased after the development of Mahakal Lok. While approximately 70,000 passengers visited the station daily during last year's Shravan season, the station now handles nearly the same volume even on regular days. This year's festive rush is expected to push the number beyond 95,000 daily passengers.

Waterproof Holding Area for Devotees

To improve passenger convenience and manage crowds efficiently, a waterproof holding area with a capacity of 1,200 passengers is being constructed outside the railway station.

The facility will provide basic amenities and allow authorities to regulate passenger entry into the station in a phased manner, reducing pressure on platforms and entry gates.

Officials believe the holding area will prove especially useful during heavy rainfall, which is common during the monsoon pilgrimage season.

Drone Surveillance and Enhanced Security

Security arrangements are also being strengthened to handle the anticipated crowd.

Railway authorities have requested 50 additional security personnel for deployment during the festival period. The number of CCTV cameras at the station will also be increased to improve surveillance.

For the first time, drones will monitor crowd movement around the station and adjoining areas. Officials say aerial surveillance will enable quicker response in case of emergencies, overcrowding, or any security-related incidents.

The integrated monitoring system is expected to significantly improve real-time crowd management during peak pilgrimage days.

Trial Run for Simhastha Crowd Management

Railway and district administration officials believe that the arrangements introduced this year will serve a larger purpose beyond the Shravan pilgrimage.

The one-way traffic system, drone monitoring, holding areas, and additional security deployment are expected to act as a trial run for future crowd management during the Simhastha Kumbh Mela, one of the world's largest religious gatherings hosted in Ujjain.

Authorities hope that the experience gained during this year's pilgrimage season will help formulate more efficient crowd-control strategies for future mega-events.

With record advance bookings already in place, Ujjain is preparing for one of its busiest pilgrimage seasons ever. The combination of improved infrastructure, enhanced security, additional train services, and innovative crowd-management measures is expected to ensure safer and smoother travel for thousands of devotees arriving every day to seek the blessings of Lord Mahakal.

The Chaturmas programme of Jain saint 108 Acharya Shri Samay Sagar Maharaj has drawn an overwhelming response from devotees at the Habibganj Jain Temple in Bhopal, prompting authorities to introduce special traffic management measures to handle the increasing number of visitors. With devotees arriving daily from Bhopal as well as neighboring districts, the temple premises have become a major spiritual gathering point during the ongoing religious observance.

The Chaturmas period holds immense religious significance in Jainism and is considered one of the most important times of the year for spiritual learning, religious discourses, meditation, and self-discipline. During this sacred period, Jain monks traditionally stay at one location instead of traveling, allowing devotees to participate in sermons and religious activities over several weeks. The presence of Acharya Shri Samay Sagar Maharaj has significantly increased the number of worshippers attending the daily programmes at the Habibganj Jain Temple.

As the number of visitors continues to rise, Bhopal Police has implemented a comprehensive traffic and parking plan to ensure smooth movement around the temple and minimize inconvenience to commuters. Officials expect the area to witness heavy traffic every morning, particularly during the hours when religious events attract the largest gatherings.

According to the revised traffic plan, vehicle movement between Mansarovar and Pragati Square will remain completely diverted every day from 7:00 a.m. until the conclusion of the religious programme. Authorities have appealed to residents and regular commuters to use alternative routes and cooperate with traffic personnel deployed along the diversion points.

The new traffic arrangement has been designed to maintain public safety while allowing uninterrupted movement of devotees entering and leaving the temple premises. Since the area experiences a substantial influx of private vehicles and buses during the programme, traffic regulation has become essential to prevent congestion.

Vehicles approaching from the Mansarovar side will now be diverted through Mahavir Gate, Nutan College, and Vyapam Square before proceeding toward the Board Office area. This diversion is expected to reduce pressure on roads surrounding the temple while maintaining access to nearby neighborhoods.

Traffic moving beyond the Board Office Square will be redirected through Jyoti Talkies, Chetak Bridge, ISBT, and the RRL route. These diversions have been planned to keep through traffic away from the temple zone, where pedestrian movement is expected to remain exceptionally high throughout the programme.

Authorities have also advised railway passengers to begin their journeys well in advance, as travel time to the railway station may increase due to diversions and temporary congestion. Travelers have been encouraged to follow traffic updates and select alternate routes whenever possible to avoid delays.

For motorists heading toward Narmadapuram and Mandideep, police have recommended using the GG Flyover as the preferred route during the Chaturmas period. This measure is expected to ease traffic flow while preventing unnecessary bottlenecks around the Habibganj area.

In addition to traffic diversions, a dedicated parking arrangement has been introduced for devotees attending the religious event. Four-wheelers arriving at the programme will be directed to designated parking spaces located on the left-side road of MP Nagar. Officials have clearly stated that parking vehicles along roads surrounding the temple premises will not be permitted during the event.

The parking restrictions are intended to keep emergency routes clear and ensure uninterrupted traffic movement in one of the city's busiest commercial and residential zones. Traffic personnel and volunteers will remain present to guide visitors toward authorized parking locations.

Special arrangements have also been made for buses transporting groups of devotees. Such buses will drop passengers near the Pragati Petrol Pump Square before proceeding via the Board Office route to the ISBT bus parking area, where they will remain stationed until passengers return after the religious programme. This system is expected to reduce congestion near the temple entrance while improving passenger safety.

The Chaturmas programme has become one of the major religious gatherings currently taking place in Bhopal, attracting followers from across Madhya Pradesh. Devotees continue to participate enthusiastically in daily sermons, prayers, and spiritual discourses delivered by Acharya Shri Samay Sagar Maharaj, reflecting the deep religious significance of the occasion.

Police officials have appealed to both devotees and the general public to cooperate with the revised traffic regulations and follow the directions issued by traffic personnel. Citizens have also been requested not to park vehicles in unauthorized areas and to exercise patience while traveling through nearby routes during programme hours.

With thousands expected to continue visiting the Habibganj Jain Temple throughout the Chaturmas period, the temporary traffic measures are likely to remain in effect until the conclusion of the religious programme. Authorities believe the arrangements will help balance public convenience with the successful conduct of one of the city's largest ongoing spiritual events.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav on Saturday said preparations for Simhastha-2028 must be planned on a scale that can handle nearly 40 crore devotees, calling the event the world’s biggest religious gathering and urging coordination with neighbouring states to manage the expected rush.

The chief minister was speaking at a one-day workshop on “Simhastha-2016 ka Sankalp, Simhastha-2028 ka Sankalp” after arriving in Ujjain around 11.25 am by helicopter. He inaugurated the session at Anjushree Hotel, where officials reviewed infrastructure plans, departmental responsibilities and lessons from the 2016 Simhastha.

Senior officials who were posted in Ujjain during the 2016 event shared their experiences and discussed the logistical challenges that may arise in 2028. Ujjain Divisional Commissioner Ashish Singh made a presentation on the ongoing preparations. Officers from across the state attended the workshop.

Yadav said the last Simhastha had faced traffic bottlenecks in several places and that similar problems must not be repeated. He said the administration should prepare in advance for movement along not just Ujjain’s main routes, but also the wider network connecting the city with nearby districts and states.

“Simhastha-2028 will be the world’s largest mela. If 40 crore devotees are expected, arrangements must be ready at that scale,” the chief minister said, according to officials present at the programme. He added that coordination with neighbouring states would be essential so that pilgrims coming from border areas do not face avoidable disruption.

The chief minister also said that Ujjain is not just a city for a holy dip in the Shipra, but a place where devotees will visit multiple religious sites. For that reason, the state is aiming to restore and upgrade temples across the city and surrounding areas. He said the government has taken up the renovation of all major temples as part of the broader spiritual and civic planning.

Yadav noted that several transport facilities have improved since the 2016 event. He pointed out that the Fatehabad railway track was not operational at the time, but is now available. According to him, road widening has also been carried out on routes that earlier caused congestion.

A major part of the discussion focused on accommodation and movement. The chief minister said government arrangements should be strong enough that pilgrims do not have to depend only on private hotels or buildings. He also said facilities at dhabas and hotels along routes up to 100 km from Ujjain will need to be strengthened to absorb the expected traffic and footfall.

Officials said the workshop was meant to align departments well before the massive religious gathering, which is expected to involve not just crowd management but sanitation, transport, health, security and emergency response systems. The focus, they said, is on avoiding the kind of pressure points seen during earlier editions of the event.

The administration is now expected to move from planning to phased execution, with district and divisional teams preparing detailed action points. The chief minister said the goal is to make Simhastha-2028 “better and historic” with collective effort and coordination across agencies and neighbouring states.