Uttar Pradesh resonates with a civilizational evolution for millennia on the banks of the holy rivers like the Ganga, Yamuna, Saryu and it is tributaries. Led by Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath, the state has launched a slew of initiatives for preserving, protecting and promoting the state’s invaluable tangible and intangible cultural heritage. The world watches this incredible renaissance of soft power with awe.
Uttar Pradesh has been the power house for some of the greatest and defining scultural, spiritual, and political chapters of Indian civilization. It is a state where devotion blends with artistry, and its cuisine carries the lingering flavours passed down centuries. The state is beyond a destination leaving visitors mesmerised with experiences and memories cherished for a lifetime and the rare privilege of having touched the essence of India.
Celebrating Tradition, Faith and Culture
The birthplace of Lord Ram and Shri Krishna, every city, festival, and tradition narrates tales from these epochs and vibrant present, as well. Pilgrimage towns like Ayodhya, Kashi, Mathura, and Prayagraj reverberates with chants of millions devotees round the year. The melody of classical music and dance forms like Kathak, along with folk performances such as Nautanki (theatre), Ramlila, and Rasleela, are living testimony from the pages of history. Bhadohi’s carpets, Banarasi silk sarees, Lucknow chikankari, Moradabad brass work, Saharanpur wood carving, and Firozabad glass bangles are specimens of matchless finesse in art and crafts. Mouth-watering flavours of Agra petha and Benarasi paan, etc., have diehard fans the world over. The festivals and daily Ganga Aarti at Varanasi ghats, the rhythm of weaving looms of Banaras, are the soul of a culture that defines life and reflects how faith, art, and harmony continue to shape the identity of Uttar Pradesh, making it a living example of India’s timeless culture.
Igniting Spiritualism
Uttar Pradesh attracts both national and international visitors through its grand festivals, especially Ayodhya’s Deepotsav. Since 2017, this festival has gained global prominence according to Uttar Pradesh Tourism data, with 5.75 crore visitors in 2023, 16.44 crore in 2024, and in just the first quarter of 2025, it was over 20.36 crore. Each year, the festival sets a new world record by lighting millions of oil lamps along the banks of the Saryu River. This year, the state achieved the rare feat of setting two new Guinness World Records: One for lighting 26, 17, 215 earthern diyas (lamps) that illuminated the festivities of Diwali. Second, where 2,128 Vedacharyas, priests, and seekers performed Maa Saryu Aarti, simultaneously. A breath-taking drone show of 1,100 ‘Make In India’, drones depicted different scenes from the Ramayana creating a magical experience for everyone in the night sky. In addition, a green musical firework show was organised to promote an eco-friendly Diwali celebration.
Varanasi, the world’s oldest living city, hosts the spectacular festival Dev Deepawali, which falls on Kartik Purnima, about fifteen days after Diwali. The ghats along the river glow with millions of earthen lamps, and evening, aarti rituals are held with singing, chanting, and prayer. Houses are decorated, devotees take a holy dip early in the day, and boats float with lamps along the river. The whole city becomes a glowing canvas of devotion, light, and faith, creating a deeply spiritual and unforgettable sight. This year i.e., 2025, the number of visitors has already touched 114,761,664. The number of foreign tourists visiting Kashi too has risen nearly 120 times since 2021. Official records show that in 2021, only 2,566 foreign visitors came to the city and the figure rose sharply to 3, 09,932 in 2024. The momentum continues in 2025, with 1, 87, 922 foreign tourists having aready visited Kashi by June.
Mathura, the land of Lord Krishna, hosts vibrant festivals like Rangotsav (a long Holi celebration) and Radhashtami to honour Radha’s birth. In 2024, the city welcomed 9.01 crore visitors, which rose to 1.77 crore tourists as on date in 2025. The Rangotsav festival in the Braj region lasts for around 40 days, which features special events like Lathmar Holi, Phoolon ki Holi, Huranga, and more, where people make merry splashing colours and celebrate Krishna-Radha legends. Radhashtami is celebrated with deep devotion to mark the day Radha is believed to have appeared. Devotees decorate temples, perform special baths, sing bhajans, and large congregation offers prayers and aarti late night or early morning.
The world’s largest spiritual congregation, the grand Mahakumbh, is held every 12 years in the holy city of Prayagraj. The festival symbolises faith, purity, and devotion attracts millions of devotees and tourists from across the globe, who take a holy dip in the Sangam, perform rituals, attend spiritual discourses, and participate in religious processions led by saints and akharas. In 2025, the city welcomed and witnessed an extraordinary surge in the number of devotees and visitors, which was a staggering over 66.96 crore, recorded in just the first quarter during the Maha Kumbh celebrations. The Mahakumbh transforms Prayagraj into a vibrant city of tents, lights, chants, and devotion, representing one of the greatest expressions of India’s spiritual and cultural richness and unity.
