New Year Mela 2025-26 at Shri Goga Ji Temple
Shri Goga Ji Temple organized the New Year Mela from December 31, 2025, to January 2, 2026. An immense crowd of devotees visited the temple to seek darshan of Shri Goga Ji and partake in the vibrant celebrations to mark an auspicious beginning to the New Year.
In August–September 2025, Vishav Manav Ruhani Kendra (VMRK) provided free medical and ambulance services during the Bhadrapad Mela at the temple. For the first time, pilgrims were able to receive medical care during the mela. Satisfied with the services, the local administration approached VMRK to continue these services during the New Year Mela. In addition, they asked VMRK to offer refreshment services.
Preparing for the mela
VMRK drew on the experience from Bhadrapad Mela 2025 and began preparing for the New Year Mela with gusto. Anticipating that a large number of pilgrims would require medical assistance, VMRK purchased sufficient medicines and medical supplies. Volunteers then packed the medicines, medical supplies, and equipment into 30 boxes.
After volunteers thoroughly cleaned the ambulance, an ambulance technician checked the portable ventilator, multipara monitor, defibrillator, oxygen cylinder and other ambulance equipment. Then, late into the night on December 29, VMRK volunteers loaded the 30 boxes and rations for refreshments, onto a pickup truck. The next morning, the truck, ambulance, and a team of nine volunteers, departed from Lighthouse Center Nawan Nagar and arrived at the temple that night.
FREE MEDICAL SERVICE AND FRESH REFRESHMENTS
PILGRIMS WERE SERVED FRESH HOT CHAI AND RUSK BISCUITS
PILGRIMS RECEIVED FREE MEDICAL CONSULTATIONS, MEDICINES, AND FIRST AID
MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS AND VOLUNTEERS SERVED PILGRIMS
Setting up
During the mela, people waited in line along the wide pathway that extends to the entrance of Shri Goga Ji Temple. The administration gave VMRK a prime spot beside this pathway about 200 meters from the temple. They also provided a tent measuring 40 by 60 feet.
Our volunteers organized the allotted space into three distinct sections: a medical camp, a kitchen to prepare the refreshments, and volunteer accommodation. Tables were arranged outside the tent entrance to serve refreshments to pilgrims as they walked past. By late morning of December 31, both services became operational.
Refreshment services
Inside the kitchen, 25 volunteers worked continuously to serve tea to the large crowd, and brewed fresh batches of hot chai in succession. Each fresh batch was poured into two insulated beverage dispensers to keep warm. Pilgrims were welcomed to help themselves to the tea as volunteers served rusks alongside. Each day, the refreshment service continued for pilgrims who kept coming until nightfall.
Medical camp
At the medical camp, a team of 15 medical professionals and volunteers served pilgrims around the clock. Within hours of this camp’s operation, VMRK observed that many pilgrims, eager for darshan, tended to overlook their minor health concerns. In response, VMRK proactively set up a second medical camp to be more accessible to the pilgrims. This camp, located just a few meters from the temple entrance and adjacent to the pilgrims’ queue, became operational by the afternoon of December 31.
At both camps, pilgrims registered and sat in the waiting area until volunteers guided them to the doctors. Many patients presented with body aches and foot pain from standing for nearly two hours while waiting for darshan. As December and January are winter months in India, many pilgrims also sought treatment for weather-related symptoms, including cough, cold, fever, and minor infections. After consultation, patients received free medicines prescribed by the doctors.
At the camp near the temple, many pilgrims requested medical care while remaining in the queue for darshan. To assist them, the medical team provided on-the-spot care, without disrupting the queue’s progress. Some pilgrims arrived at this camp requiring emergency care, upon which the ambulance immediately transported them to the second camp. There, they received in-house medical care at the three-bed clinical center.
On January 2, VMRK concluded its refreshment services, having served over 15,000 individuals. The medical services remained operational until the afternoon, providing free care to more than 3,130 pilgrims over the 3-day mela.
Visitor feedback
Many people left comments in our visitor log, some are listed below:
I had been standing in the queue for an hour to have darshan of Shri Goga Ji. Due to the excessive crowd, I started experiencing severe pain in my waist and foot, making it difficult to even stand. At that very moment I noticed the VMRK’s medical camp in front of the temple. I requested assistance from one of their volunteers, explaining that I would not be able to leave the queue to get the medicine. Upon this, he immediately sent a doctor to me. The doctor examined me right there in the queue, gave me medicine, and even provided the necessary dressing. I was extremely happy to witness their spirit of service. Seeing people serving devotees so selflessly in today’s times made me very emotional. I wholeheartedly thank Sant Baljit Singh Ji for this great service.
My name is Sangwan. I had come to Gogamedi for the New Year celebration and due to the cold weather, I fell ill with a fever and a cold. After that, I went to the VMRK medical camp, where I was given free medicine. I was very happy to see that for the first time, an organization had set up a free medical camp during the New Year Mela. Therefore, I would like to thank VMRK and Sant Baljit Singh Ji.