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Kanwar Yatra 2022: Record 38 million pilgrims arrived in Uttarakhand this year
Millions of pilgrims from Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and other states thronged Har Ki Pauri, Gangotri and Gaumukh in Uttarakhand to fetch the holy ‘Gangajal’
The Kanwar Yatra in Uttarakhand this year witnessed a record turnout of over 38 million devotees of Lord Shiva, known as Kanwariyas, over the 12-day long pilgrimage that concluded on Tuesday.
The ‘Shravan Kanwar’ concluded on Tuesday on Shivratri, with kanwariyas leaving Haridwar in the wee hours of the day to head back in time to place the Shiva Lingam with the holy water of the Ganges.
Millions of pilgrims from Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and other states thronged Har Ki Pauri, Gangotri and Gaumukh in Uttarakhand to fetch the holy ‘Gangajal’.
“By Tuesday evening, around 38 million kanwariyas left Haridwar fetching the sacred Gangajal. The number may increase as around 2.9 million devotees arrived on the concluding day itself,” said Kanwar Mela cell in-charge inspector BL Bharti.
The pilgrimage was held after a gap of two years due to coronavirus-induced restrictions. In 2019, 36 million kanwariyas had arrived in the state, while in 2018 that number stood at 35 million, and 30 million in 2017.
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The Char Dham pilgrimage mela administration had made elaborate arrangements and traffic-security plans for the kanwariyas, keeping in mind the fervour of devotees returning after a long hiatus.
“Terror threats and communal violence witnessed in the recent months were the major challenges for mela force, which we managed to overcome. Managing such a record number of kanwariyas in just a span of 12 days speaks of the hard work, planning and on-field execution done by the force personnel,” said Haridwar senior superintendent of police (SSP) Yogendra Singh Rawat.
In view of the successful completion of the fair, state director general of police Ashok Kumar took part in the Kanwar felicitation event in Haridwar organised by the SSP.
