The colour of faith changes from time to time across the country. First, Sai Baba, then Shani Dev, and now, for the past several years, the wave of Khatu Shyam Baba has been surging. In cities like Bhopal, the changing trends of faith can be easily understood.

Changing trends of faith in India

Rise of Khatu Shyam Devotion: The pattern of faith in cities never remains the same, just as fashion and lifestyle trends keep changing from time to time; similarly, the centres of devotion also keep shifting from time to time.

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At times, Sai Baba temples were popping up, and at other times, a wave of devotion to Shani Dev was so intense that a new Shani temple sprang up in every area. Now, for the past several years, the wave of Khatu Shyam Baba has persisted.

Cities like Bhopal are a recent example of this, where a wave of devotion that began with a small temple has now blossomed into several major centers. This shift in faith is not limited to just one city, but has become part of an emerging religious trend across the country.

Khatu Shyam, the god of young India

According to a media report, the Khatu Shyam Temple has emerged as the new deity of young India, and social media (Instagram, Reels) has helped spread its popularity to every household. The report also states that four Khatu Shyam temples have been built in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh alone.

Khatu Shyam's popularity has seen a rapid rise over the past several years. According to a report, the number of devotees visiting Khatu Shyam Dham in Rajasthan reached millions between 2023 and 2024. This figure increased to 23.6 million in 2024.

The trend of faith changed in cities like Bhopal.

The first statue of Shanidev was installed in Barkhedi, Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh, 100 years ago. Two decades later, the construction of Shani temples began, with such a surge that the number has now reached 50.

Similarly, the city's first Sai temple was built in the 1100 Quarter between 1985 and 1987. Over time, the number of Sai temples in various parts of the city has grown to 40. Now, for the past three years, the wave of faith has shifted to Khatu Shyam.

In just three years, the number of his temples in Bhopal city has grown to 10. It is estimated that the number of Khatu Shyam devotees across the city has surpassed 100,000.

The city's first Khatu Shyam temple is located in Sarvadharma Kolar.

Sarvadharma Kolar, where a small Khatu Shyam temple was built in the ancient Hanuman temple in 2002. Until three years ago, it was the only Khatu Shyam temple in the city, but now it has become the largest Khatu Shyam temple in the city.

Faith never remains the same; it is always changing under the influence of society, time, and culture. From Sai Baba to Shanidev and now Khatu Shyam, their popularity is growing rapidly. Cities like Bhopas are just examples; the real reason is that the map of faith is changing across the country.

This change does not indicate the rise or fall of any one deity, but rather is proof that the flow of devotion in modern India is not static but constantly changing.