Limits On DJ Volumes, Height Of Kanwars: Police Begins Preparation For Yatra; Five Crore Pilgrims Expected In Haridwar

The government has started preparing for the Kanwar Yatra, which is set to begin on 22 July on the first day of Sawan (a Hindu month considered auspicious to worship Lord Shiva).

Expecting an inflow of five crore pilgrims in Haridwar, to take Ganga water, the Uttarakhand Police has made certain restrictions including one that no pilgrim will be allowed to carry a Kanwar more than 7 feet high.

The DJ played during the yatra will also need to keep the sound within permissible volumes. The Kanwar yatris need to keep their identity cards with them.

Eight companies of the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) and 12 companies of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) will be deployed from 19 July onwards, Jagran reported.

7,000 police personnel will be deployed. Drones will also be used to keep an eye on the Kanwar Yatra. Security of the railway stations, especially Haridwar and Rishikesh, is also being enhanced.

A route map has been prepared by the Uttarakhand Police for pilgrims coming from Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

Four crore Kanwar yatris visited Hardiwar in 2023, as per A P Anshuman, additional director general (ADG) of police (crime and law and order). He expects the number to be greater this time.

Rishikesh SSP (Senior Superintendent of Police) Ajay Singh has instructed that bhandaras (food arrangements) for Kanwar yatris cannot be conducted on roads and will be permitted only near parking places.

Haryana Police has started similar preparations. Kaithal DSP Umed Singh has asked the DJ vendors to not give any DJs to Kanwar yatris, otherwise their equipment will be seized by the police.

However, the DJ vendors argued that instead, the police should limit the volumes of DJs, instead of an overall ban, otherwise they will face losses and have already done advanced bookings.