Patna: In a significant development ahead of the Shravani Mela, the Bihar Tourism Department has announced plans to extend full-scale facilities for Kanwariyas from Pahelja Ghat in Saran district to Baba Garibnath Temple in Muzaffarpur — a first for the region.
Tourism Secretary Lokesh Kumar Singh chaired a review meeting on Thursday at the Tourism Directorate auditorium, where he confirmed that arrangements typically seen along the traditional Sultanganj to Dumma border route of the Shravani pilgrimage would now also be implemented across the Pahelja-Muzaffarpur stretch.
Key amenities such as toilets, bathrooms, safe drinking water, uninterrupted electricity supply, Kanwar stands, information kiosks, and entertainment facilities will be made available throughout the route. A large German hanger-style tent city, accommodating up to 500 pilgrims, is under construction at Pahelja. The structure will include fans, coolers, CCTV surveillance, and other safety measures.
Additionally, a temporary tourist information centre is set to be established along the pilgrimage route. The centre will feature seating for 100 people, a bamboo Kanwar stand, and a public announcement system broadcasting live and recorded messages about Bihar tourism on LED screens.
At the destination point in Muzaffarpur, a waterproof German hanger tent city with a capacity of 1,000 will be constructed at RDS College, near the Baba Garibnath Temple. Further tent cities with 200-seat capacities are also planned in Goraul, Bithauli, and Turkey.
Each tent city will have an appointed in-charge, with mobile numbers and helpline details prominently displayed. A central control room will also be established in Patna in coordination with local police. Medical facilities will be available at all major points including Pahelja, the temple site, and the tourist information centre.
For the spiritual and cultural enrichment of pilgrims, the district administration will host Bhajan Sandhya events at the Muzaffarpur tent city near Baba Garibnath Temple.
The meeting was attended by Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation’s Managing Director, Nandkishore, Tourism Director and Special Secretary Udayan Mishra, and other senior officials.
