The Uttarakhand Kanwar Yatra has always been one of the most significant Hindu pilgrimages in India, where thousands of devotees from across the country travel on foot to collect the holy water of the Ganges River. This year, attendees have been asked to carry their government-issued ID cards with them during the journey, in an effort to streamline the process.
Garhwal Police Commissioner Sushil Kumar has recommended that all Kanwar Yatris carry their ID cards with them during the Yatra. Given the scale of the pilgrimage, it is essential to identify individuals, in case of any emergency. Furthermore, it would help the authorities in tracking any illegal activity that might take place.
However, this isn’t the only regulation that the commissioner is urging pilgrims to follow. He is also requesting them to carry smaller kanwars, which are the bamboo structure the devotees carry on their shoulders for containing the water, to avoid accidents. This year the kanwars are requested to be not higher than 12 feet so they do not cause noise pollution. Additionally, the police will be monitoring individuals riding motorcycles without silencers as they create a lot of noise pollution during the event.
The Kanwar Yatra is a significant challenge when it comes to crowd management, and it is essential to take precautions to ensure the safety of all devotees. To this end, all necessary preparations, including overseeing and monitoring, have been made.
According to Garhwal DIG Karan Singh Nagnyal, 10 companies of paramilitary forces personnel have been requested to be present for the Kanwar Yatra in the state. These forces will help in maintaining law and order during the event.
The inter-state meeting was held on Saturday, discussing the preparations and coordination between states concerning the Kanwar Yatra 2023. The meeting was attended by officials from various states, including Uttarakhand, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.
The event is expected to take place in 2023, and it is critical to have everything in order, given the scale and importance of the pilgrimage. All attendees should follow the instructions from the administration to ensure the Yatra is conducted successfully and peacefully.
In a nutshell, while it is essential to have measures in place to ensure the safety of all attendees, it is vital to maintain the spiritual significance and sanctity of the Kanwar Yatra.
