A large number of devotees assembled in different parts of Himachal Pradesh on Thursday, the first day of 2026, to express gratitude for the past year and seek blessings for the future.
One of the busiest shrines in North India, the hilltop Naina Devi temple in Bilaspur district, witnessed a large number of pilgrims from Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi, according to temple officials.
The popular shrines of Chintpurni in Una district and the Jwalaji and Brajeshwari Devi temples in Kangra district also witnessed a huge rush of devotees.
“We are expecting a daily arrival of 15,000 to 20,000 devotees till this weekend,” an official at the Naina Devi shrine said.
Meanwhile, security has been increased to manage crowds at all prominent shrines.
Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla and Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu extended New Year greetings to the people of the state.
The Chief Minister expressed hope that the New Year would bring abundant happiness to everyone and serve as a symbol of renewed aspirations, fresh resolutions and positive energy. He said the people of the state stood shoulder to shoulder with the government while facing challenges.
He noted that the state faced several disasters in 2025, but despite this, it was a year of development and achievements, during which new benchmarks were set in the fields of education, health, agriculture and infrastructure through its own resources. He also reiterated the government’s firm resolve to eradicate “chitta”, a chemical narcotic.
CM Sukhu assured that the government would continue to stand firmly for the welfare of the people and safeguard the overall interests of the state in the future.
In his message, the Governor expressed hope that the New Year would bring peace, happiness and prosperity to every household and usher in new opportunities for progress and development.
He said the New Year is a time for renewal of hope, positive thinking and collective resolve to build a stronger, healthier and more inclusive society.
He urged residents, especially the youth, to adopt values of discipline, compassion and social responsibility and contribute actively towards building a drug-free, healthy and prosperous state.
–IANS
