Kanwar Yatra 2024: NH-58 Dehradun-Delhi Highway Closed Due to Growing Kanwariya Attendance

The Kanwar Yatra for 2024 began on July 22, coinciding with the first Monday of the month of Sawan. The roads on either side of the highway have been designated for Kanwariyas, and the Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh Police have implemented diversion plans to manage the traffic. In Haridwar, around 1.25 crore Kanwariyas have departed for their destinations carrying holy water from the Ganga. These devotees of Lord Shiva traditionally collect the sacred water from Haridwar to offer it at Shiva shrines in their hometowns.

The recent influx of pilgrims in Haridwar has led to the division of the area into 12 superzones, 35 zones, and 132 sectors for better management. The Kanwar Yatra involves devotees collecting water from a river and traveling hundreds of kilometers to present it at Lord Shiva shrines. According to Hindu beliefs, the initial procession involved Parshuram, a devotee of Shiva and an avatar of Lord Vishnu. The month of Sawan, typically falling between July and August, is dedicated to the worship, fasting, and pilgrimage in honor of Lord Shiva.

In Muzaffarnagar, officials have conducted a foot march with the ATS commando unit to ensure the smooth running of the Kanwar Yatra. The police personnel have been deployed at various points to manage the influx of Kanwar yatris and to ensure the safe and uninterrupted progress of the pilgrimage. *(Note: This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed. )*