The annual Kanwar Yatra is set to commence, with Delhi bracing for the arrival of an influx of devotees making their pilgrimage to Haridwar. To manage the large-scale event and minimize disruptions to daily life in the city, authorities have issued guidelines for this year’s yatra. These directives aim to address common concerns related to noise levels, traffic management, and camp arrangements.
New Rules, Familiar Concerns
Delhi Police has issued directives to Kanwar camps, emphasizing noise restrictions, traffic regulations, and a strict “no encroachment” policy. Music must be silenced by 10 pm, volume levels must stay within legal limits, and camps cannot obstruct traffic flow.
However, residents, particularly those near major Kanwar Yatra routes, remain unconvinced. Past experiences of blaring music, traffic nightmares, and a perceived lack of enforcement have left them wary.
“Every year, it’s the same story,” recounts a resident living near a major procession route. “The problems just keep coming back.” Their concerns revolve around relentless noise pollution, severe traffic congestion, and the fear that guidelines will be ignored again.
Despite assurances from authorities, skepticism runs deep. Many residents feel their complaints have fallen on deaf ears in previous years, leaving them disillusioned about the effectiveness of any new measures.
Traffic Routes Adjustments for Kanwar Yatra
More than two million devotees may participate in the Kanwar yatra this year. With such a large influx of pilgrims passing through Delhi, vehicular movement, especially in the city’s eastern, central, northern, southern, and southwestern parts, typically experiences disruptions for around two weeks. Uttar Pradesh and Delhi administrations have devised elaborate traffic management plans to mitigate this.
As in the previous year, the main carriageways of the Delhi-Meerut Expressway will be allocated for the Kanwar Yatra. To accommodate the expressway allocation, the NH-9 lanes in Ghaziabad will serve as a diversion route for local and long-distance traffic. Authorities believe this will be crucial in preventing major bottlenecks.
While dedicating expressway lanes might ease congestion on other routes, it presents logistical challenges. The lack of exits on certain stretches, like between the Ghazipur border and Sarai Kale Khan, may pose a concern in case of emergency evacuation.
A Call for Cooperation
The Kanwar Yatra is an important pilgrimage undertaken by devotees of Lord Shiva during the Hindu month of Shravan (July-August). Devotees, known as Kanwariyas, journey to Haridwar to fetch holy water from the Ganges River, which they then carry back to their hometowns as an offering. This year, the yatra is expected to see over two million participants, primarily from Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.
With the deployment of nearly 5,000 security and traffic personnel, Delhi is preparing for the logistical and crowd-management demands of the Kanwar Yatra. As the pilgrimage unfolds, the effectiveness of the guidelines, traffic plans, and the cooperation of both devotees and residents will determine whether this year’s event can strike a harmonious balance between faith and civic order.
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