Authorities in Uttarakhand’s Haridwar have intensified cleanliness, security and crowd-management measures as the annual Kanwar Yatra witnesses the arrival of lakhs of devotees in the holy city.
The Kanwar Yatra began on July 30 with the commencement of the holy month of Sawan and will conclude on August 11 with the Sawan Shivratri Jal Abhishek. Every year, devotees of Lord Shiva collect holy water from the Ganga in Haridwar and carry it to Shiva temples across northern India.
Haridwar Municipal Commissioner Nandan Kumar said extensive sanitation arrangements have been made to accommodate the large influx of pilgrims.
“During the Kanwar Yatra, a large number of devotees visit, so we have installed around 300 FRP and steel toilets, along with nearly 60 mobile toilets across the municipal area. During the peak period, around 900 additional sanitation workers are deployed,” Kumar told IANS.
He said the Municipal Corporation has prioritised cleanliness at ghats, parking areas and major pilgrimage routes, with continuous sanitation work being carried out using modern cleaning equipment. The number of temporary toilets has also been increased to improve facilities for pilgrims.
Kumar added that around 15 new cleaning machines will be inducted ahead of the upcoming Kumbh Mela to further strengthen sanitation at the ghats. Awareness campaigns are also being conducted with the support of NGOs and volunteers to encourage devotees to maintain cleanliness.
Appealing to pilgrims, he urged them not to litter the ghats or surrounding areas, minimise the use of plastic and cooperate with the civic authorities in preserving the cleanliness of the Ganga.
To maintain law and order, the Uttarakhand Police have deployed nearly 6,000 personnel across Haridwar and adjoining areas. Surveillance has also been strengthened through an extensive network of CCTV cameras and watch towers along major Kanwar routes and transit points.
The administration has prohibited the sale of meat and liquor along designated Kanwar routes during the pilgrimage.
Meanwhile, Haridwar Police are closely monitoring social media to curb the spread of rumours and misinformation related to the yatra.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Navneet Singh Bhullar urged the public to verify the authenticity of viral videos before sharing them.
“Before sharing any video going viral on social media, check its authenticity and location. Many times, videos from other states or old videos are circulated in the name of Haridwar, creating unnecessary rumours and confusion. We are continuously taking down such content and identifying the portals and IDs spreading misleading information,” Bhullar told IANS.
He said the Haridwar Police social media team has identified around 160 social media accounts and portals involved in spreading misleading content, and action has been initiated against them.
“A special team of 20 trained police personnel has been deployed to identify those spreading rumours through URLs,” he added.
Police said strict legal action would continue against anyone found attempting to incite religious sentiments or circulate false and misleading information during the pilgrimage.
The Kanwar Yatra is one of the largest annual religious pilgrimages in northern India, with lakhs of Kanwariyas collecting holy Ganga water from Haridwar, Rishikesh and other pilgrimage centres before carrying it on foot to Shiva temples for Jal Abhishek.
The pilgrimage will culminate on August 11 with Sawan Shivratri, when devotees offer the sacred Ganga water to the Shivling, marking the completion of their month-long religious observances.
(With inputs from IANS)
