Ambaji: As many as 45 lakh (four and half million) pilgrims participated in a week-long Bhadarvi Poonam fair at pilgrim town Ambaji in North Gujarat this year according to the district administration. This year, the Mela commenced on September 23rd.

According to the district administration of Banaskantha, as of upto 5 pm on the last day of the fair (29 Sept), 45.54 lakh pilgrims participated in the fair, 3.73 lakh had bhojan prasad (meals), 18.41 lakh prasad packets were distributed, over 2.27 crore income was witnessed at Bhandara, Gadi, through 5000 bhej counter, and through religious literature sale. Over Rs. 4.61 crore revenue was registered over prasad distribution. The total revenue witnessed during the week-long fair was over Rs. 6.89 crore (exact figure – 6,89,72,556). In addition to this 520 gram of gold, 10 mg of gold ornaments, 1.215 mg of silver ornaments were received.

Over 8.72 lakh pilgrims traveled in buses through over 17,000 trips. Over 56,000 pilgrims used ropeway rides. 3,377 religious flags were offered to the Shikhar of Ambaji mandir. Over 1.15 lakh patients received medical treatment during the fair.

From very long flags to a “digital flag with sensors,” which would turn on lights attached to the flag only during the dark. Free meals, drinking water, resting dormitories, mobile charging, healthcare, rickshaw rides, etc., were available to pilgrims. Mobile phones were allowed in the mandir during the fair period.