The cast and crew of the film “Hanuman Ansh” recently travelled to Kainchi Dham in Nainital, where they visited the shrine of Baba Neeb Karoli Maharaj. Actor Shobhinav Satya, who plays the lead role, took the opportunity to offer his respects and participate in the Aarti ceremony, expressing his deep spiritual connection to the site. The team articulated that their visit was infused with the unique spiritual energy associated with Kainchi Dham.

Following the prayers, Shobhinav described the experience of reaching the threshold of Baba Neeb Karoli Maharaj as profoundly special. He acknowledged the significant role that the blessings of Baba have played in his life and expressed gratitude towards the audience for their overwhelming support of the film. He highlighted that their appreciation had enabled “Hanuman Ansh” to achieve noteworthy success.

Shobhinav commended Uttarakhand for its natural beauty and rich spiritual heritage. He noted that places like Kainchi Dham, alongside the renowned Char Dham sites, serve as major centres for millions of devotees seeking spiritual solace.

Increasing Footfall at Kainchi Dham

The timing of this visit coincided with a significant influx of devotees at Kainchi Dham. Filmmaker Dr Vishal Chaturvedi shared a video message on social media urging potential visitors to reconsider their plans and check the current conditions at the shrine due to reports of extensive traffic congestion and increased visitor numbers.

Social media platforms have been inundated with videos depicting long queues of vehicles leading up to Kainchi Dham, as well as substantial crowds outside the ashram. While some social media posts have associated the spike in visitors with the recent film, Chaturvedi refrained from attributing the surge solely to “Hanuman Ansh”, advising that visitors should evaluate present circumstances before heading to the site.

In his message, Chaturvedi urged devotees unable to access Kainchi Dham to consider alternative locations linked to Neem Karoli Baba, such as Neem Karoli village and Vrindavan. He expressed concern about the safety and comfort of women and children during the busy period, urging visitors to avoid creating a situation where individuals feel uncomfortable or trapped.

Impact of the Long Weekend on Visitor Numbers

The increase in visitors can be traced back to the long weekend beginning with a government holiday on October 2, followed by the weekend. Popular destinations across Uttarakhand experienced a similar surge, with Mussoorie reporting substantial tourist numbers as well.

Traffic reports indicated that thousands of vehicles travelled from regions including Delhi-NCR, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Punjab, particularly along routes leading to Kainchi Dham and Nainital. The daily footfall at the shrine, previously estimated at about 4,000 to 5,000 visitors, has reportedly exceeded 6,000 on certain occasions, with weekend numbers soaring to between 15,000 and 20,000 due to the holiday.

Kainchi Dham, founded in 1964 by Neem Karoli Baba and associated with Hanuman, is a significant spiritual ashram and temple. The rising interest in the site coincides with the considerable success of “Hanuman Ansh”, which was produced with a budget of approximately Rs 2 crore and has attracted a broader audience than initially anticipated.

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