The holy month of Sawan began today with throngs of Shiva devotees flocking to temples across Uttar Pradesh, from the sacred lanes of Varanasi to the ghats of Prayagraj. While spirituality and devotion defined the atmosphere at major temples, incidents of unrest by kanwariyas (Shiva devotees on foot pilgrimage) were reported in parts of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, prompting increased police vigilance.
At the iconic Kashi Vishwanath Temple, an overwhelming crowd gathered since early morning. Devotees bathed in the Ganga and offered water to Baba Vishwanath. Given the rush, darshan (sighting of the deity) was restricted to just one second per person. In a symbolic gesture of devotion, Varanasi Commissioner S. Rajalingam showered flower petals on the pilgrims. A newly released drone video captured the grandeur of the temple and the massive turnout.
In a significant decision, the temple administration this year banned VIP darshan to ensure equal access for all pilgrims.
At Gorakhpur’s Gorakhnath Temple, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath performed a Rudrabhishek and conducted havan rituals, adding to the spiritual fervour. Similar scenes of devotion unfolded in Ayodhya, Lucknow, and Prayagraj, where chants of “Har Har Mahadev” echoed in temple complexes.
In Meerut, authorities deployed drone surveillance over Kanwar routes to monitor crowd density and maintain law and order. The drone visuals are being used for real-time traffic management and identification of suspicious activity. Additionally, AI-based monitoring and over a dozen watchtowers have been set up to prevent untoward incidents.
In Prayagraj, kanwariyas collected holy water from Dashashwamedh Ghat and set off for their home districts, chanting “Bol Bam” and “Har Har Mahadev”, marking the beginning of their spiritual journey.
Chaos and violence
However, the celebrations were marred by incidents of violence and unrest by kanwariyas.
In Muzaffarnagar’s Shiv Chowk, a group of kanwariyas turned violent after a biker accidentally collided with one of their kanwars (sacred water pots), damaging it. The enraged pilgrims vandalised the bike and assaulted passers-by before the police intervened to defuse the situation.
Similar chaos erupted in Uttarakhand, where three separate incidents of vandalism by kanwariyas were reported. In first incident near Kaur College, a devotee was hit by a vehicle, triggering an attack on nearby cars by fellow pilgrims. Secondly, at Patanjali Yogpeeth, kanwariyas accused a vehicle of damaging their kanwar and resorted to vandalism. While in Belda village near Roorkee, a group attacked a Scorpio driver, alleging he damaged their kanwar. The vehicle was later vandalised, despite attempts by bystanders to pacify the crowd.
Meanwhile, along the Haridwar-Moradabad Kanwar route, liquor shops were covered with tarpaulin on official orders to maintain religious sanctity. However, alcohol sales continued behind the curtains.
As lakhs of pilgrims participate in the Kanwar Yatra this Sawan, the UP and Uttarakhand administrations are maintaining a delicate balance between managing religious sentiments and ensuring public safety.
