Bhai Dooj 2024: 25 lakh devotees expected at Datia's Ratangarh Mata temple
Synopsis
More than 25 lakh pilgrims are set to descend on the Ratangarh Mata temple in Datia, Madhya Pradesh, on 9-10 November for the Bhai Dooj fair — eleven years after a 115-death stampede at the same site reshaped how the state manages this gathering. This year's response: 23 sectors, 100 acres of parking, and round-the-clock inter-departmental coordination.
Key Takeaways
More than 25 lakh devotees are expected at Ratangarh Mata temple , Datia, on 9 and 10 November for the annual Bhai Dooj fair.
The fair area has been divided into 23 sectors with parking across 100+ acres ; each zone equipped with water, tents, and PA systems.
Datia Collector Swapnil Wankhede and SP Mayur Khandelwal are leading multi-agency preparations, with all pending work due by Friday .
The temple, situated 55 km from Datia along the Sindh river, draws devotees from across Madhya Pradesh and neighbouring states.
A 2013 stampede at the same temple killed 115 people , making crowd safety a central concern for every subsequent fair.
More than 25 lakh devotees are expected to converge on the Ratangarh Mata temple in Datia district, Madhya Pradesh, for the annual Bhai Dooj fair on 9 and 10 November, prompting the district administration to mount extensive arrangements for crowd management, parking, traffic regulation, and security. The two-day religious gathering is among the most significant in the region, drawing pilgrims from across Madhya Pradesh and neighbouring states.
Scale of Arrangements
Datia Collector Swapnil Wankhede said the fair area had been divided into 23 sectors, with parking facilities spread across more than 100 acres to absorb the anticipated footfall. Each parking zone has been equipped with drinking water, tents, and public address systems.
'The Ratangarh Mata Mela will be organised on November 9 and 10, after Diwali, on the occasion of Bhai Dooj. More than 25 lakh devotees from various districts are expected to visit the temple to seek the blessings of the Goddess,' Wankhede said. Wide and open routes have been planned to ensure smooth movement of pilgrims and prevent congestion at key access points.
Police and Administration Coordination
Datia Superintendent of Police Mayur Khandelwal said preparations had been in progress for several days, with continuous inter-departmental meetings involving senior officials. 'Meetings have been held continuously with all departments, along with the Collector and senior officers, including the Divisional Commissioner and Deputy Inspector General of Police, to review preparations and ensure that all necessary arrangements are completed before the fair,' Khandelwal said.
A further inter-departmental review was conducted on Thursday to track progress and identify pending work. Officials were directed to complete all remaining tasks by Friday.
About the Ratangarh Mata Temple
The Ratangarh Mata temple is located in a forested stretch along the Sindh river, approximately 55 km from Datia town. It is a revered shrine dedicated to Goddess Ratangarh Mata and Kunwar Maharaj, drawing pilgrims from across the state and beyond. The Bhai Dooj fair — held on the second day after Diwali — is its largest annual gathering.
Shadow of the 2013 Stampede
Crowd safety remains a paramount concern at the site. In October 2013, a deadly stampede at the temple claimed 115 lives, one of the worst such tragedies in Madhya Pradesh's history. That disaster has since shaped how the administration approaches crowd control, emergency response, and traffic management at the annual fair — making this year's sector-based deployment and multi-agency coordination a direct institutional response to that tragedy.
With preparations now in final stages, authorities are aiming for a safe and orderly event when the fair opens on 9 November.
Point of View
100 acres of parking, continuous DIG-level meetings — reflects how deeply the 2013 stampede scarred institutional memory in Datia. That a single religious gathering eleven years later still commands this level of multi-agency anxiety is itself a data point: crowd infrastructure at India's mid-tier pilgrimage sites has not kept pace with footfall growth. The administration's preparations are thorough on paper, but the real test is execution on the ground, where communication gaps between sectors and emergency responders have historically been the weak link.
NationPress
5 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Ratangarh Mata Bhai Dooj fair 2024?
The Ratangarh Mata Mela is scheduled for 9 and 10 November 2024, on the occasion of Bhai Dooj — the second day after Diwali. More than 25 lakh devotees are expected to attend.
Where is the Ratangarh Mata temple located?
The Ratangarh Mata temple is situated in a forested area along the Sindh river, about 55 km from Datia town in Madhya Pradesh. It is dedicated to Goddess Ratangarh Mata and Kunwar Maharaj.
What arrangements have been made for crowd management?
The fair area has been divided into 23 sectors, with parking facilities spread across more than 100 acres. Each parking zone has drinking water, tents, and public address systems, while wide routes have been planned for smooth pilgrim movement.
What happened at the Ratangarh Mata temple in 2013?
A stampede at the Ratangarh Mata temple in October 2013 claimed 115 lives, making it one of the deadliest crowd-crush incidents in Madhya Pradesh's history. The tragedy has since driven stricter crowd-control protocols at the annual fair.
Who is overseeing security and logistics for the 2024 fair?
Datia Collector Swapnil Wankhede and Superintendent of Police Mayur Khandelwal are heading the multi-agency preparations, coordinating with the Divisional Commissioner and DIG. Officials have been directed to complete all pending arrangements by Friday, 8 November.
