Haridwar starts preparations for Kanwar yatra

HARIDWAR: With the Char Dham pilgrimage witnessing a record number of pilgrims, authorities are expecting a huge influx of pilgrims in this year’s Kanwar yatra. The Haridwar district administration has started preparing for the two-week-long Kanwar yatra to be held in mid-July this year.

“After a gap of two years, the Kanwar pilgrimage will be organised, so advanced preparations are being made,” Haridwar district magistrate Vinay Shankar Pandey said.

For the past two years, the Kanwar pilgrimage was not held owing to the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2019, more than 30.6 million Kanwariyas had arrived in Haridwar from various parts of the country to fetch the Ganga jal. The administration is expecting Shiva devotees, known as Kanwariyas, to be anywhere between 30 and 40 million this monsoon season. During Kanwar yatra, Shiva devotees walk hundreds of kilometres to fetch water from the Ganga and carry it back to their villages. Kanwariyas also visit Rishikesh, Devprayag and Gangotri-Gaumukh to fetch Ganga jal with which they anoint Shiv Lingams at their native places.

The district magistrate has already been chaired a meeting held for Kanwariya yatra preparations while another meeting is scheduled next week.

“Considering the surge in Char Dham pilgrim numbers, this year Kanwar pilgrimage is expected to draw major footfall of devotees. So for proper law and order, traffic management, parking and delivery of basic amenities to Kanwariyas, preparations are being made. I have given directions to all the nodal agencies and government departments to start planning and working on related aspects in this regard,” said Pandey.

The district magistrate has given directives to the public works department to inspect the Kanwar stretch along Ganga Canal and other roads used by Kanwariyas and submit their reports within a week’s time.

Special security arrangements are being made at Ganga ghats by setting up iron railings and safety chains. sensitive ghats are being earmarked. Jal Police personnel will also deployed at stretches near Ganga ghats, officials said.

“After Mahakumbh this is the first Kanwar pilgrimage. So, we are making traffic plans accordingly on the newly built highway and outway service lane so that smooth passage of Kanwariyas can be ensured. From traffic to security, CCTV monitoring and intelligence sharing with neighbouring states will be done,” said Haridwar senior superintendent of police Yogendra Singh Rawat.

In the coming weeks, an interstate meeting of police officials will also be convened focusing on sharing of intelligence, information and traffic plans.

Ganga Sabha has welcomed the district administration’s advance planning ahead of the Kanwar yatra.