New Year 2026: Massive Devotee Surge Chokes Temples; VIP Darshan Suspended in Kashi, Ujjain

As India prepares to step into 2026, a massive surge of devotees has overwhelmed major religious destinations. This special report by India Today highlights the unprecedented rush at pilgrimage sites including Ayodhya, Puri, and Somnath. In Vrindavan, the Banke Bihari Temple administration has urged devotees to postpone visits due to choking traffic and packed streets. Similarly, authorities at Ujjain’s Mahakaleshwar and Varanasi’s Kashi Vishwanath Temple have suspended VIP and protocol darshan to manage the lakhs of devotees arriving daily. The Somnath Trust reports footfall crossing several lakhs, with numbers expected to rise further.