The recent popularity of the devotional drama ‘Hanuman Ansh’ has brought renewed attention to Kainchi Dham in Uttarakhand. The spiritual destination has reportedly witnessed a significant influx of devotees in recent days.Kainchi Dham is a prominent ashram and Hanuman temple associated with Neem Karoli Baba. The ashram was founded in 1964 and remains an important spiritual destination for his followers. Videos circulating online have claimed that some devotees travelled to the site after watching ‘Hanuman Ansh’. The reported crowds have now prompted director Vishal Chaturvedi to address the situation.
Vishal Chaturvedi urges devotees to check conditions
Vishal Chaturvedi shared a video on Instagram after noticing reports about the crowd at Kainchi Dham. He asked people to assess the situation before deciding to visit the shrine. “Kainchi Dham mein bohot bheed hui hai iss waqt aur bohot saare logon ka ye kehna hai ki waha Hanuman Ansh film dekhne ke baad log waha pohonch gaye hai. Yadi aisa hai toh bhi aur yadi aisa nahi hai toh bhi humein sabhi ko waha ki paristithi pata karke hi waha pe jaana chahiye.” (“Kainchi Dham is very crowded at the moment, and many people are saying that people have reached there after watching the film ‘Hanuman Ansh’. Whether that is the case or not, we should all visit the place only after checking the current situation there.”) The director’s message came amid reports of heavy crowds and long queues at the popular pilgrimage destination. He stressed the importance of knowing the prevailing conditions before travelling.
Director suggests other places to devotees
Vishal Chaturvedi also highlighted other spiritual destinations that devotees could consider during the rush. He mentioned Neem Karoli village and Vrindavan as possible alternatives. He said visitors should avoid situations that could become difficult for families. His appeal specifically referred to children and women facing discomfort amid overcrowding and traffic. “Aap sabhi se anurodh hai ki aise samay main yadi kainchi dham mein bohot bheed hai aur ghanto ki line lagi hai toh ap in sthaano pe bhi ja sakte hai… Mera aapse anurodh hai ki aisi sthiti na ho paaye aap ke ghar mein bachche, mahilayein jo hai woh waha pe suffocate ho rahi hai, woh jam mein phasi hui hai.” “A humble request to all of you: If Kainchi Dham is overcrowded at such a time and there are queues lasting for hours, you can visit these other places as well. I request you not to become part of a situation where the children and women from your families are suffocating there or getting stuck in traffic jams.”)
Long weekend contributes to tourist rush
The crowd situation coincided with a three-day long weekend. October 2 was a government holiday, followed by Saturday and Sunday. The extended break resulted in increased travel across Uttarakhand. Mussoorie also witnessed a substantial tourist movement during the period. According to Hindustan Times, long queues of vehicles were reported along the Mussoorie-Dehradun Road on Friday. Hindustan Times reported that large numbers of vehicles arrived from Delhi-NCR, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab. Kainchi Dham in Nainital also recorded a heavy influx of visitors. Social media footage showed the crowds gathered at the shrine during the long weekend.
‘Hanuman Ansh’ records Rs 3 cr on Day 59
Meanwhile, ‘Hanuman Ansh’ has continued its theatrical run well into its second month. The devotional drama recorded a rise in its daily collection on Sunday. Directed by Vishal Chaturvedi, the film remained in theatres on its 59th day. Its latest figures added to an already substantial domestic total. According to Sacnilk, ‘Hanuman Ansh’ collected Rs 3.00 cr net in India on October 4. The film’s cumulative India net collection has reached Rs 324.73 cr. The overseas gross collection has reached Rs 39.70 cr. With its domestic and international earnings combined, ‘Hanuman Ansh’ has recorded a worldwide gross of Rs 423.26 cr.