In This UP Village, Every Person Has 'Ram' Or 'Krishna' In Their Name

Did you know there is a village in India where every person has ‘Ram’ or ‘Krishna’ in their name, and the entire community follows a strictly vegetarian diet?

This unique village, Idrishpur, is located in Baraut tehsil of Baghpat district, Uttar Pradesh. The villagers engage continuously in devotional activities, including performing aartis and other special pujas. They regularly sing bhajans for long hours, and every week they recite the Ramcharitmanas, along with organising other religious and cultural programmes. One of the central aspects of their devotion is their strict adherence to a vegetarian diet, avoiding non-vegetarian food entirely.

Interestingly, every person in the village, whether male or female, has ‘Shri Ram’ or ‘Shri Krishna’ as part of their name.

A local villager shared that Idrishpur is considered the city of Lord Ram because, since ancient times, it has been the home of great and accomplished saints. The influence of these saints is so profound that the villagers have developed a deep devotion to Lord Ram. They honour him not only by avoiding non-vegetarian food but also by abstaining from alcohol and other intoxicants. Every year, the village organises Bhagwat Katha and Ram Katha, reinforcing their connection to spiritual and religious traditions.

The villagers perform kirtan in their homes daily and the Ramayana is recited once a month. The village also boasts a large ashram that attracts many worshippers. It is believed that, in ancient times, great saints stayed in this ashram, performing religious activities and imparting spiritual knowledge to the villagers. The influence of Lord Ram and Lord Krishna is so ingrained in the community that even children are taught devotion and religious values from a young age.

Idrishpur is located 17 km from the sub-district headquarters in Baraut and 32 km from the district headquarters in Baghpat. As per the 2009 census, the village is also a gram panchayat covering an area of 376.32 hectares, with a population of 2,204-1,215 males and 989 females.