The annual Kanwar Yatra for Shravan month begins today. During the Kanwar Yatra, a large number of people visit pilgrimage sites such as Haridwar, Gaumukh, and Gangotri in Uttarakhand to fetch the holy waters of the Ganga river. Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh governments have made elaborate arrangements to manage a large number of pilgrims. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has said that the state government has made elaborate arrangements for the smooth conduct of the yatra.
The Haridwar district administration estimates that up to 5 crore devotees may attend the Kanwar Mela this year. Akashvani’s correspondent reports that to manage this large influx, extensive preparations have been put in place. The Mela area in Haridwar is divided into 14 superzones, 31 zones, and 126 sectors, with enhanced surveillance via drones and CCTV. Social media monitoring will be in place to prevent misinformation. Over 5,500 police personnel have been deployed for this Kanwar Mela, and a route diversion plan has been implemented to manage the crowd effectively. Additionally, Shopkeepers, hotels, and eateries along the Yatra route must display names, rate lists and contact details, with police verification underway.
Meanwhile, devotees carrying their Kanwars have begun arriving in Haridwar and Rishikesh to collect holy Ganga water, with some also heading to Gaumukh in the Uttarkashi district. The yatra will conclude on the day of Shravan Shivratri after pilgrims offer holy Ganga water to Lord Shiva in different temples. Sanjeev Sundriyal, Akashvani News, Dehradun.”
Delhi Police has issued a traffic advisory for Kanwar Yatra. A large number of Kanwariyas reach Delhi, and some of them travel to Haryana and Rajasthan through Delhi borders. This year, the expected number of Kanwarias is about 15 to 20 lakhs. During this period, due to the movement of Kanwarias and the establishment of Kanwaria Camps along roadsides, traffic congestion and obstructions were experienced at several locations.
Delhi Traffic Police has made comprehensive arrangements to separate the movement of Kanwarias and other road users to minimize inconvenience to the general public and devotees. The police have stated that heavy commercial transport vehicles, except city buses coming from GT Karnal Road at Outer Ring Road, will be diverted straight towards NH-24. They will not be permitted to proceed on Wazirabad Road and GT Road towards Shahadra. Motorists and road users are advised to plan their travel in advance to avoid inconvenience and delays.
