Haridwar: Sawan 2025, the favorite month of Lord Bholenath, has started. In such a situation, devotees of Bholenath, Kanwariyas are reaching Haridwar to fill Ganga water. From where they are leaving for their respective destinations after filling Ganga water. In such a situation, all efforts are being made by the police and administration to conduct the Kanwar fair safely. A proper Kanwar track has been made for the safety of the Kanwariyas, but instead of going on it, the Kanwariyas are passing through the highway. Due to this, many types of incidents are coming to the fore.
Kanwariyas avoiding the Kanwar track: In fact, many such incidents are also coming to the fore regarding the Kanwariyas, where the Kanwariyas have also been seen creating a ruckus. The reason for this is that the Kanwar track was made for the Kanwariyas, from where the Kanwariyas should pass. But Kanwariyas are taking the help of highway instead of tracks to go towards their respective destinations. In such a situation, movement of Kanwariyas and vehicles on the highway can cause accidents anytime.
This is the reason that many times Kanwar gets hit by a vehicle while passing on the highway. Due to which there is a ruckus. Regarding this, the team of ETV Bharat went to the ground. We found that there is a lack of Shiva devotee Kanwariyas on the Kanwar track, but Kanwariyas are moving ahead on the highway. Whereas, the Kanwar track is easy and equipped with facilities. We also talked to Haridwar DM Mayur Dixit regarding this matter.
“Our effort is to bring all the Kanwariyas on the track. For this, the entire area is being monitored continuously. All the Kanwariyas and the general public are appealed to cooperate with the administration in making the fair a success.” – Mayur Dixit, District Magistrate, Haridwar
Kanwar track route has been built from Haridwar to Modinagar: The district administration has built a Kanwar track route from Haridwar to Modinagar. So that, Kanwariyas can reach their respective Shivalayas safely with their Kanwar and can complete their Kanwar Yatra safely by offering water. But Kanwariyas are not using the Kanwar track route and are travelling directly through the highway.
The highway has to be closed when there is a postal Kanwar or crowd increases: The district administration has not closed the highway yet. The district administration closes the highway only 3 days before the last Kanwar or when there are excessive Kanwariyas. Due to the closure of the highway, the general public faces a lot of inconvenience in travelling. This time very few Kanwariyas are going on the Kanwar track route.
25 health checkup centers built on Kanwar route: Whereas, 25 health centers have been built by the Health Department on the Kanwar track route in Haridwar district, which provide medicines and other facilities to the Kanwariyas. They also check up on them in case of any disease or ill health. Medicines are available at health centers all the time, be it day or night. A whole team of doctors is available at these health centers along with ambulances.
I have come from Rewari. I am carrying Kanwar. My leg started paining while walking, but I got free medicine at the health center built on the Kanwar route. Here, facilities ranging from medicines to medical checkup are available.” – Sudhir, Kanwaria
Arrangement of food and prasad for Kanwaria: Many devotees or local people also arrange food and prasad etc. for Kanwaria on the Kanwar Patri route. Bhandara Swami Subhash Kashyap told that this food prasad is made only for Kanwaria keeping in mind the purity of the Kanwar Yatra. Prasad is also distributed.
What did the Kanwaria say? Kanwaria Ajay, Rohit, Amit passing through the highway said that there is definitely a fear of accidents on the highway, but this route is shorter for them and the journey becomes easy due to the presence of many food shops.
At the same time, the health workers posted at the health centers and those preparing food and prasad for the Kanwaria are also admitting that this time the number of Kanwaria is not as much as it should have been. Most of the Kanwaria are going through the highway. All kinds of vehicles are running on the highway, due to which there are clashes between Kanwaria and the general public and Kanwars are broken. Due to this, more reports of disturbance are coming in.
