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Kanwar Yatra: All educational institutions in UP's Muzaffarnagar to remain closed from July 16 to 23

Kanwar Yatra: All educational institutions in UP's Muzaffarnagar to remain closed from July 16 to 23

Hindustan Times11 hours ago
All educational institutions in Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar district will remain closed from July 16 to July 23 in view of the Kanwar Yatra, district authorities said on Monday. The Yatra sees a large number of kanwariyas travelling on foot to collect sacred water from the Ganga river and offer it at Shiva temples.(HT_PRINT)
District Magistrate Umesh Mishra told reporters that the decision has been taken to ensure smooth conduct of the annual religious pilgrimage and to avoid any inconvenience to students and staff during the festival period.
'All schools and colleges in the district will remain closed from July 16 to July 23, 2025. Strict action will be taken against any institution found open during this period,' Mishra warned.
Kanwar Yatra, which sees a large number of kanwariyas travelling on foot to collect sacred water from the Ganga river and offer it at Shiva temples, witnesses heavy movement and heightened security arrangements across western Uttar Pradesh, including Muzaffarnagar.
The administration has appealed to all educational institutions to strictly comply with the order.
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On the kanwar route, devotion and some concerns
On the kanwar route, devotion and some concerns

Hindustan Times

time34 minutes ago

  • Hindustan Times

On the kanwar route, devotion and some concerns

Dressed in saffron or yellow and a gamchha (towel) slung over their shoulders, millions of men (and some women) pour out of towns and villages across the northern heartland every monsoon, making their way on foot, on buses, motorcycles or cars to the Ganga ghats in Haridwar. Last year, roughly 40 million people undertook this holy journey that has unfortunately also come to be associated with incidents of vandalism and crime. As the Kanwar Yatra opens, HT travels the 210km (Delhi to Haridwar) route to take stock of public perception – devotion mixed with some anxiety and concern. STOP 1: Partapur Village, Uttar Pradesh, 60km from Delhi Fifteen kilometres from Meerut is Partapur village, the first stop of kanwariyas. The streets are lined with around five police tents, 15-20 camps for devotees, two-three medical camps and a fire tender on standby. Vedpal Saini, who runs a roadside eatery, said the pilgrimage is getting bigger every year. It's good for business, he added, even if there is a caveat. 'If there are 100 good devotees, there are also 10-15 notorious ones who harass people,' said the 44-year-old, and added that while traffic woes trouble the local residents, 'business picks up.' 'For at least 10 days, one side of the road is blocked and we can't even ride a bike. The pilgrims lie down on the road, making it inaccessible,' said Saini. But he is not complaining; his customers swell fourfold during the kanwariya season. A UP police constable who asked not to be named said the problem is only with a few of the 'daak kanwars' – who do not stop and walk or run continuously – that are impossible to control, with some who are 'drunk, creating a ruckus if stopped.' Otherwise, he adds, it's just more work 'We have 12 hour long shifts, and no leaves for a month. Our hands are also tied, we can't do much… I just hope each year that no major incident takes place involving the pilgrims.' STOP 2: Modipuram, Uttar Pradesh, 90km from Delhi The next stop is Modipuram, around 30km away, where over a dozen camps are set up and over 500 police personnel deployed. 'When I was a child, only small groups of men would undertake this journey. It was a festive time, peaceful too. Now, I see thousands of men on the yatra,' said Mohan Lal, a septuagenarian resident. With increasing numbers, there is bound to be some trouble. 'Some drink, drive rashly and abuse on the way,' he adds. But most people factor the yatra into their calculations – making changes in how they work. For instance, Mohan Kumar, who runs Vasudeva Hospital, a 12-bed unit gets his employees to stay at the hospital itself. 'For a week, traffic becomes a huge problem. I make my doctors and nursing staff, only men, stay at the hospital for three to four days, so that they don't have to face any problem,' said Kumar. For the Muslim traders of Modinagar , it is a fraught time. Mohammad Umar, a biryani seller, said he shut his shop. 'My parents are dependent on me, and even though I know the local politicians, I think it would be risky to open the shop this time of the year. I don't want to get into any trouble. This will affect finances but we don't have an option.' STOP 3: Khatauli, Uttar Pradesh, 115km from Delhi The small town is packed with shops, sugar mills and businesses, all in the same market. Shopkeepers and local leaders have put up welcome boards for the kanwariyas. 'Even though the GT Road gets blocked, it's still such a festive mood in the city. We face huge traffic snarls… But that's fine,' said Hem Singh, a sweet shop owner. But for women, it's also a time when they have to be careful. Suneeta Kumar, a 28-year-old who works at an electrical appliances shop with her husband Arup Kumar, also finds her movements restricted for two weeks. 'Why risk one's safety and step out? Most of the people are nice but there will be a few bad elements. We prefer staying indoors. Some people get drunk and misbehave. I wish the government could do something,' she said. Next to Khatauli, in Daurala village, shopkeepers and villagers were also preparing for the yatra. Mohd Naushad, a car and bike repair shop owner, finds himself busy at all hours of the day and night when the yatra begins. 'I have never had to shut my shop during Kanwar Yatra because of my religion or anything. It's such a busy time. In fact, I even get calls at midnight from devotees who need help fixing their cars or bikes. They call me and have never misbehaved. There's garbage but municipality staff cleans it over the night.' A senior police officer (DSP level), told HT 'It's more like a festival for locals. Obviously, there are good and bad elements. Our job is to take care. The local police is vigilant and no incidents have been observed inside the city. More than 800 staff guided by inspectors are deployed round the clock.' HT Graphics(HT) STOP 4: Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, 140km from Delhi Before reaching Haridwar, a Shiva temple in Muzaffarnagar is an important pitstop for devotees. Located in the middle of Shiv Chowk road junction, the temple receives more than a million kanwariyas every year, said police. 'The pilgrimage is incomplete without a parikrama at the Shiv temple. There's some traffic issues but the police are always here,' said head priest Harish Bhardwaj. There are more than 50 camps set up in the city and 2,000 police personnel deployed. A separate control room is set up at Shiva Chowk for senior officers to monitor situation. Bhardwaj explained how devotees come from different parts of the country and join the yatra. 'I always have help. Some even volunteer to clean the temple...' he added. 'There's no end to our duty at that time. I have worked for over 20 hours every day. If millions of men are on the streets, there will be some issues. But we cannot do much and have to maintain law and order,' said a police officer, requesting anonymity. Director general of police (DGP) Rajiv Krishna told media that across UP over 587 gazetted officers, 2040 inspectors, 13,520 sub-inspectors, 39,965 head constables and constables, 1,486 women sub-inspectors, 8,541 women head constables and constables, 50 companies of Central Police Force and Pradeshik Armed Constabulary (PAC) and 1,424 Home Guards have been deployed. STOP 5: Roorkee, Uttarakhand, 190km from Delhi Roorkee comes to a standstill for two weeks during Kanwar season. More than 2,000 police personnel are deployed and over 100 camps are set up. As men and women dance to loud music blaring out of trucks, schools, colleges, offices and even a few markets remain shut. 'The roads have been blocked since July 5. This will go on till July 23, till everyone comes back from Haridwar. Cleanliness is a major issue for us. The street outside my store is lined with garbage,' said Abhishek Grover, a grocery store owner. Devotees also take big chariots for the Kawar Yatra. Some even carry their parents. He said while he respected a large majority of devotees, some were hooligans. 'I see them and I know they are intoxicated. I have three female staffers and I just tell them to take leave or not leave the store,' he added. Retired IIT Roorkee professor, R Shankar, recalled a more peaceful time. 'Devotees would walk in small groups and mind their own business. It all changed after 1990-92. There was this big spike in numbers. I am a religious man myself but I can't support this,' he said. A traffic police head constable said they lose count of their work hours. 'Everyone I know is on the ground. The traffic is a huge issue. While local police focus on law and order, we have to see traffic as well. We have to ensure essential services don't get affected. I usually don't take leave during Kawar Yatra time,' he said. STOP 6: Haridwar, Uttarakhand, 225 km from Delhi It's here that kanwariyas fill their pots with water from the Ganga and walk back to villages and towns across Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi. Hotels, holy ghats, temples, lodges and eateries teem with people. The streets, the ghats, temples and monuments are lit with decorations, lights, flowers and colourful banners. From July 11 to 28, all schools will remain shut, offices will be closed and buses and rickshaws will stop plying on the roads. Diyas, flowers, puja items, religious pieces such as rudrakash, stones and other pieces will be sold at twice the price, said yadav. 'My wife and I come to Har Ki Paudi every day but we don't come during the Kanwar Yatra. There's no space to stand and there's garbage everywhere. Police are called to remove people because there's fear of stampede,' said retired teacher Rajan Yadav, 65. The district magistrate's office said over 45 million people arrived in Haridwar during the Kawar Yatra last year. 'We keep our shops open for 12-16 hours. People keep coming in and there's no space to sit. I can't stand all day and sell cans and puja items. I have a young daughter who also tries to help but I can't allow her to stay here at night,' said Mohini Singh, a shopkeeper. Many residents welcome the pilgrimage. Srishti Kulshrestha, 24, whose parents run a shop near the ghat, is one of them. 'I see my family working for over 12 hours without any police help, handling crowds but they never complain. My mother says it's like sewa (service).' In all, 8,000 police personnel are deployed and hundreds camps set up. A police constable near Har Ki Paudi showed three CCTV rooms and announcement stations which are set up to help devotees, missing children and check for thefts or any nuisance STOP 7: Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, 250km from Delhi Most kanwariyas return from Haridwar with water cans, but some walk on towards Rishikesh to visit the Neelkanth temple. 'Last year, more than six lakh people were there on a single day. . For two days, the entire stretch was blocked from Rishikesh main town to Neelkanth temple. Two or three years back, I remember there were heavy rains and people were stuck. The authorities closed roads and people were stuck near the temple, some were stuck on roads,' said Sumit Kanwal, a priest. Kanwal added that young men and women often do the trek to complete the pilgrimage. 'Some do it for their elderly parents, others do it in groups. It's truly surprising to see so many people turning up here. They visit our temple as well.' Colourful chariots, idols, posters and models line the streets. Some Kawar Yatris fix their own chariots and pots as they trek towards Rishikesh Only 50-60 camps are set up at Rishikesh as most devotees have to trek during rains. Police officials told HT that police are deployed at every post or road junction since the devotees walk around the entire city to get to the temple. 'For 15-18 days, it's complete madness. I have seen men who remove silencers from their bikes. Their speakers cause headaches and my parents do not move out,' said Kuldeep Singh, a local guide. 'Nobody can confront them as they are always angry.'

Uttar Pradesh: Thousands throng Lucknow Shiva temples on first Sawan Monday
Uttar Pradesh: Thousands throng Lucknow Shiva temples on first Sawan Monday

Hindustan Times

timean hour ago

  • Hindustan Times

Uttar Pradesh: Thousands throng Lucknow Shiva temples on first Sawan Monday

Thousands of devotees thronged various Shiva temples in Uttar Pradesh capital on the first Monday of Hindu holy Sawan month. The Mankameshwar temple on Gomti banks and the Buddheshwar temple on Para road drew maximum crowd while a big turnout was seen at a Mahadev temple in Sadar area. A long queue of devotees waiting for their turn outside a Lord Shiva temple in Lucknow on first Sawan Monday on July 14. (HT photo) Dressed in hues of red, orange and yellow, the devotees visited the Shiva temples amid chants of Har Har Mahadev and Bum Bum Bhole. Even sultry weather conditions in the city could not dampen their spirit. One Deepak Agarwal with his wife Rani visited one of the Shiv temples to offer prayers. The duo said ever since they got married, they made it a point to visit Shiva temple daily for the entire month Sawan month. At the Mankameshwar temple, women bought bangles, vermilion and mangalsutra. One of the devotees said it is considered auspicious to buy bangles and vermilion during Sawan. 'Every time I visit the temple, I feel connected to the divine power,' said one of the devotees at the At Mahakal temple here which resembles the renowned Ujjain temple. The district administration has made all arrangements for the convenience and safety of the devotees. According to a police official, continuous patrolling was carried out on all the routes used by the Shiva devotees.

2L devotees throng Baidyanath Dham on first Somvari
2L devotees throng Baidyanath Dham on first Somvari

Time of India

time6 hours ago

  • Time of India

2L devotees throng Baidyanath Dham on first Somvari

1 2 3 4 Dumka: The first Somvari, the auspicious Monday of the holy Shravan month at Baidyanath Dham and Basukinath Dham Shiva temples in Deoghar and Dumka districts, witnessed a footfall of lakhs of devotees from across the country and the globe. They waited for hours in the serpentine queues, which are as long as 10 km during peak hours, for their turn to make their offerings or get a darshan at the respective shrines. By Monday evening, when the sanctum sanctorum of the temple closed, the number of devotees easily crossed the two-lakh mark, officials said. Being one of the Dwadash Jyotirlingas and Shaktipiths, the Baidyanath Dham is visited by a huge number of devotees and pilgrims particularly in the holy month of Shravan. "Devotees started joining the long queues along the kanwariya route line on Sunday night which extended up to the Chamradih overbridge before the temple opened for offerings at 4:15 am," an official said. At Basukinath temple in Dumka district, another famous Shiva temple traditionally visited by a vast section of the devotees arriving at the Baidyanath Dham to mark the completion of their pilgrimage, 90,000 kanwariyas paid offerings by 4 PM on Monday. "By late evening, more than one lakh devotees visited the Basukinath temple to pay their offerings on the first Monday," another official said. As a crowd control measure, kanwariyas are not allowed to enter the sanctum sanctorum since the beginning of the month-long Shrawani Mela on July 11 but were allowed to offer the sacred Gangajal and other puja paraphernalia into a large vessel (Arghya). Large TV screens have also been installed to let the devotees witness their offerings pouring onto the Shivalinga through a channel connected to the Arghya. "This is the third consecutive time I have arrived at the 'Babadham' temple during the Shravani Mela. The arrangements for the devotees have improved this time compared to previous years," said Devyanti Devi, a homemaker who came from the Saharsa district of Bihar. Administrative officials, including Deoghar DC Naman Priyesh Lakda and SP Ajit Peter Dungdung, were seen monitoring the situation from Sunday night. "Apart from the heavy deployment of security forces in and around the entire temple town, AI-based surveillance equipment, including CCTV cameras and drones, is being utilised to keep a close watch on the movement of the devotees and the long queues," Dumka DC Abhijeet Sinha added.

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