3 days ago
During Shravan rush, a new layer of crowd management support brought in at Pune's Bhimashankar Temple
Amid the huge rush of devotees to the Bhimashankar Temple in the Pune district, authorities recently introduced an additional layer of structured, community-driven crowd management at the shrine.
According to a statement, the initiative by the Mohit Kamboj Bharatiya Foundation, in collaboration with Caretain, is designed to enhance safety, streamline pilgrim movement, and offer a more dignified darshan experience.
The statement added that the initiative, supported by the Bhimashankar Temple Trust, marks a significant step forward in modernising and streamlining crowd management practices at high-density pilgrimage sites.
Based on a community-driven model, local youth from nearby villages have been trained in crowd management, first aid, communication, and emergency response.
Backed by experts from Caretain, the Mohit Kamboj Bharatiya Foundation has implemented a 360-degree system featuring scientific barricading, structured queue lines, real-time CCTV surveillance, and trained volunteers in easily identifiable attire with walkie-talkies. The site includes clearly marked zones for VIP access, toilets, and first-aid, the Foundation said.
In close coordination with the temple administration, 15 days of continuous public announcements will guide pilgrims on entry and exit points, water and toilet facilities, senior citizen queues, and VIP routes, ensuring transparency and ease of movement.
Medical teams, ambulances, and on-ground staff are in place to handle emergencies, while Caretain personnel, in partnership with the local police, are managing parking and traffic flow. The system ensures safety without disrupting the temple's rituals or sanctity.
'This isn't just about controlling crowds,' said Mohit Kamboj Bharatiya, the founder of the Foundation. 'It's about ensuring that every devotee, whether an elderly pilgrim or a young trekker, feels safe, respected, and spiritually fulfilled. In today's times, crowd management at religious places is not a choice but a responsibility. With such large gatherings, we need systems that protect lives and preserve sanctity.'
Advocate Suresh Kaudare, Chairman, Bhimashankar Kshetra Temple Trust, said, 'Managing the overwhelming footfall during the holy month of Shravan has always been a pressing challenge for us. For years, we have felt the need for a structured crowd management system that could preserve both the safety and sanctity of the pilgrimage'.
'We are truly grateful to the Mohit Kamboj Bharatiya Foundation for stepping forward with not just resources, but a deeply thoughtful, community-centric approach. Their involvement has brought in much-needed discipline, infrastructure, and volunteer training, allowing us to offer devotees a safe, seamless, and spiritually enriching darshan experience, without compromising on our age-old traditions and rituals,' added Kaudare.
The Bhimashankar Temple is nestled in the Sahyadri hills of Maharashtra, and revered as one of the 12 Jyotirlingas or shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva.
