The Kanwar Yatra has entered its final phase, with large crowds of devotees continuing to gather in Haridwar and along the Kanwar routes on the eighth day of the pilgrimage. More than 20 million Kanwariyas have so far collected Ganga water and departed for their respective destinations. Devotees are filling containers with Ganga water at Haridwar's ghats before returning to their home states on foot and by vehicle.
Amid the large influx of pilgrims, devotees expressed satisfaction with the arrangements made by the governments of Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh. Several Kanwariyas said the presence of police and administrative personnel, along with medical facilities, drinking water, food and rest camps along the route, had facilitated their journey. Authorities are continuing to monitor security and traffic management across the pilgrimage routes.
The Haridwar administration began preparations ahead of the pilgrimage in anticipation of the large number of devotees. Service camps have been established at multiple locations in and around Haridwar, providing food, drinking water, fruit, first aid and rest facilities for pilgrims.
Long queues of devotees have been seen at the city's major ghats since morning to collect Ganga water. After filling their containers, Kanwariyas continue their journey carrying their Kanwars on their shoulders. Several groups are travelling while chanting "Har Har Mahadev" and "Bam Bam Bhole."
The primary purpose of the Kanwar Yatra is to carry Ganga water from Haridwar and other sacred locations to Shiva temples in devotees' home regions for Jalabhishek on Sawan Shivratri. The religious observance draws millions of Shiva devotees every year.
This year, groups of pilgrims from Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and several other states have arrived in Haridwar to collect Ganga water before returning to their destinations. Many devotees are undertaking the journey on foot, while others are travelling by vehicle.
To manage the crowds, a large number of police personnel have been deployed along the Kanwar routes. Barricades have been installed at several locations, and separate traffic arrangements have been made for vehicles. Dedicated routes for Kanwariyas have also been designated to facilitate the movement of pedestrians.
Health services have also been prioritised during the pilgrimage. Medical camps and first-aid centres have been established along the routes to assist pilgrims experiencing fatigue, blisters, dehydration or other health issues caused by long-distance walking. Ambulance services are available where required.
Police and administrative teams are maintaining continuous surveillance to ensure the safety of devotees. Additional security personnel have been deployed at sensitive locations, while CCTV cameras and other monitoring systems are being used in crowded areas to respond promptly to any untoward incident.
Maintaining sanitation along the pilgrimage routes remains an administrative challenge because of the movement of millions of devotees. Additional sanitation workers have been deployed, and temporary toilets and waste bins have been installed at several locations.
Local residents and social organisations have also set up service camps for pilgrims, providing food and drinking water around the clock. Rest facilities have also been arranged at some locations.
Devotees said that despite the large crowds, arrangements at many locations were satisfactory. They said police personnel were assisting with directions, crowd management and other requirements during the pilgrimage.
The governments led by Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath have placed particular emphasis on security and traffic management for the Kanwar Yatra. Officials from both states are coordinating to maintain arrangements along the pilgrimage routes.
Haridwar continues to experience the highest pressure during the pilgrimage, with the number of devotees increasing across Ganga ghats, markets and major roads. After collecting Ganga water, Kanwariyas proceed towards Uttar Pradesh before continuing to their respective states through different routes.
With Sawan Shivratri approaching, the pace of the pilgrimage is expected to increase. Devotees currently in Haridwar are attempting to collect Ganga water and begin their return journey at the earliest, and crowd levels along the Kanwar routes may increase further in the coming days.
The administration has appealed to pilgrims to use designated routes, avoid overspeeding, and remain patient during periods of heavy crowding. Devotees have also been advised to avoid areas of b river currents and exercise caution during adverse weather conditions.
Religious music and devotional chants continue to be heard at several locations along the pilgrimage routes. Devotees are carrying decorated Kanwars as they continue their journey.
The Kanwar Yatra is one of the largest religious gatherings in northern India, attracting millions of participants every year. The pilgrimage also generates economic activity for local shopkeepers, hotels, transport operators and small businesses.
The figure of more than 20 million devotees having already departed with Ganga water reflects the scale of participation during the pilgrimage. The number may increase further during the final days. Authorities are continuing to prioritise crowd management, security and the maintenance of arrangements until the conclusion of the pilgrimage.
Devotional chants continue to resonate from Haridwar through the Kanwar routes extending into Uttar Pradesh and other states as devotees proceed towards their destinations carrying Ganga water.
With more than 20 million Shiva devotees having departed with Ganga water by the eighth day of the pilgrimage, and pilgrims expressing satisfaction with the arrangements, maintaining crowd management and security during the remaining days of the Kanwar Yatra remains the administration's primary priority.
