Officials Praise Preparations as Over 5.5 Million Pilgrims Expected

Tourism Minister Sudivya Kumar Sonu emphasized that the successful conduct of such a massive gathering rests on the blessings of Baba Baidyanath. Last year, roughly 5.3 million devotees visited the shrine; this year, organizers anticipate more than 5.5 million. He remarked that the government serves merely as a conduit for the saint’s divine grace.

Rural Development Minister Deeplika Singh Pandey praised Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s leadership in ensuring meticulous preparations. She called for stricter waste management, urging a ban on plastic, and announced the construction of PCC barriers and sand‑control measures along the Kanvaria route.