Haridwar, July 31 : The annual Kanwar Yatra commenced on Thursday with the beginning of the holy month of Shravan, prompting authorities across several northern states to implement extensive security and logistical measures for one of India’s largest religious pilgrimages. Millions of devotees have already begun travelling towards Haridwar and nearby Ganga ghats to collect sacred water for offering at Lord Shiva temples in their hometowns.
Haridwar is expected to witness an influx of more than four crore pilgrims over the next two weeks, making it the focal point of the pilgrimage. The city has already turned saffron as thousands of Kanwariyas, chanting “Bam Bhole,” arrived to begin their spiritual journey.
The Uttarakhand administration has intensified preparations to handle the unprecedented rush. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami reviewed the arrangements with senior officials, while coordination has also been established with neighbouring states to facilitate uninterrupted movement of devotees.
To strengthen security, additional police personnel from multiple districts have been deployed across Haridwar. Authorities have also introduced Cyber Commandos for the first time to monitor social media platforms and quickly counter fake news, AI-generated misinformation and misleading content that could disrupt public order.
Traffic management plans have been put into effect across the district, with diversions, dedicated routes and parking facilities created for pilgrims. Several educational institutions in Haridwar have been temporarily closed to minimise congestion, while food safety teams have been instructed to conduct regular inspections to prevent the sale of adulterated food.
Neighbouring Uttar Pradesh has also rolled out an extensive security framework, considering the large number of pilgrims expected to pass through the state. AI-powered surveillance systems, drone monitoring, integrated command centres and round-the-clock control rooms have been activated to maintain law and order throughout the pilgrimage period.
Thousands of devotees visited the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi on the first day of Shravan, where authorities arranged special crowd management measures to ensure smooth darshan.
Officials at the Uttar Pradesh Police Headquarters stated that a dedicated Kanwar control room in Lucknow is continuously monitoring pilgrim movement through CCTV cameras, drones and field intelligence. Quick response teams, anti-sabotage units and social media monitoring cells have also been deployed to prevent rumours and respond swiftly to emergencies.
Muzaffarnagar, a major transit hub for Kanwariyas, has witnessed one of the largest security deployments. Around 4,000 security personnel, including Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) and flood response teams, have been stationed across the district. Authorities have also established 45 medical camps, deployed 78 ambulances and reserved 100 hospital beds for emergency healthcare services.
Senior officials in Bareilly reviewed preparedness across nine districts, assessing security plans, surveillance systems, traffic diversions and medical arrangements. AI-enabled CCTV cameras, barricading, lighting, drinking water facilities, medical camps and designated parking zones have been established to manage the expected rush.
Ghaziabad authorities have also strengthened infrastructure by installing thousands of streetlights along pilgrimage routes, repairing roads and arranging medical camps, rest areas, drinking water facilities and sanitation services for devotees.
Delhi Police has enhanced security across the national capital, where thousands of Kanwariyas are expected to pass through during the pilgrimage. Additional personnel have been deployed at major entry points, while restrictions on heavy vehicles and traffic diversions have been introduced to maintain smooth movement.
Officials said coordination meetings have been held with neighbouring states to ensure seamless travel and immediate response to any emergency situations during the yatra.
Meanwhile, Delhi Mayor Pravesh Wahi has requested the Municipal Corporation of Delhi to temporarily close meat shops and roadside stalls selling non-vegetarian food along major Kanwar routes and near pilgrimage camps during the yatra. The civic body has also completed preparations for more than 300 Kanwar camps that will operate across the city until August 11.
Security has also been tightened in Gurugram, where CCTV surveillance, bomb disposal squads, dog units and intelligence teams have been deployed along the pilgrimage routes. Dedicated traffic plans, women help desks, emergency green corridors for ambulances and recovery vehicles have been arranged to ensure uninterrupted movement of both pilgrims and essential services.
Authorities across the region have appealed to devotees to follow traffic advisories and cooperate with officials so that the annual pilgrimage concludes peacefully and safely.