Uttarakhand: Haridwar To Host Kanwar Yatra After Two Year Gap, 'Record' Number Of Pilgrims Expected

Uttarakhand awaits the highest turnout of pilgrims coming to Haridwar for this year's Kanwar Yatra. The yatra is scheduled to begin on 14 July.

Commencing after a gap of two years owing to the spread of Covid-19 in 2020 and in 2021, the Kanwar Yatra is expected to witness a 'record' turnout this year, a report in The Times of India says.

Senior police officers from Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan met at a coordination meeting to discuss the key issues related to the yatra.

Haridwar and surrounding areas have been divided into 12 super zones, 31 zones and 133 sectors for the yatra and around 9,000-10,000 security personnel will be deployed to maintain law and order, DGP Kumar informed the local media.

The Kanwar Yatra will take place alongside the ongoing Char Dham Yatra. Uttarakhand's neighbouring states are expected to publicise the prescribed routes of the Kanwar Yatra keeping in consideration the flow of pilgrims and tourists to the Chardham Yatra, to Mussoorie and Dehradun.

Director General of Police, Uttarakhand, Ashok Kumar has been quoted as saying: "The Kanwar Yatra was suspended in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid pandemic. However, we are expecting almost 4 crore pilgrims this year which is significantly higher than the turnout in 2019, when about 3 crore kanwariyas came to the state."