Authorities in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand are gearing up to mask liquor shops with curtains along kanwar yatra routes to preserve the religious sanctity of the pilgrimage. Delhi too has announced curbs, with the state government deciding to shut meat shops during the yatra, which will take place from July 11 to 23 this year.
In Ghaziabad and Noida, a total of 222 liquor outlets have been identified along key pilgrimage stretches. As per officials, these shops - including their signboards - will be concealed before the pilgrimage begins, to ensure they are not visible to kanwariyas, the devotees of Lord Shiva who walk for miles carrying holy water from the Ganga during the month of Shravan.
Subodh Kumar, the district excise officer of Gautam Buddha Nagar, was quoted by TOI as saying that the move is routine and not meant to shut the shops. “Shops are being covered so they are not visible to kanwar pilgrims crossing the route, but they will not be forced to shut. It’s done every year to avoid hurting sentiments,” he said.
In Ghaziabad, District Magistrate Deepak Meena had previously issued directions to either shut or relocate liquor and meat shops on the yatra routes or ensure they remain covered during a review meeting held on June 17.
In neighbouring Delhi, Minister Kapil Mishra has taken a more direct approach. Speaking to reporters, Mishra stated, “Meat shops will remain closed in Delhi during the Kanwar Yatra. This is our decision. Most of these meat shops are illegal anyway and should not be operating as per the law.”
“But during the Kanwar Yatra, they will be especially kept shut. Everyone must follow the law. These are all illegal shops and we cannot allow them to operate during the Kanwar Yatra,” Mishra added, without clarifying whether the ban would be limited to shops along the pilgrimage routes, as reported by India Today.
Meanwhile, in Uttarakhand, the administration has identified 28 liquor shops along highways and pilgrimage paths to be screened from view. “The shops, along with their signboards, will be covered with curtains. There is no plan to shut them,” Haridwar District Excise Officer Kailash Chandra Binjola said, as quoted by IANS. Shop owners who fail to comply will be issued notices, he said.
Across both states, food stalls, hotels and dhabas have been instructed to display valid licences, menus and rate lists. A “zero-tolerance” directive by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath reiterates that anyone found flouting norms or attempting to disrespect the spiritual character of the yatra will face strict action, TOI reported.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami recently chaired a high-level review meeting and announced multiple initiatives to support a safe and clean pilgrimage. Among them is the deployment of mobile toilets, water points and special waste collection vehicles every 1-2 km around Haridwar, Roorkee, Rishikesh and nearby zones.
Medical preparedness is also being strengthened with health centres and ambulances positioned every 5 km. Additionally, a new Uttarakhand Kanwar Seva App will offer real-time route and facility information to pilgrims. CM Dhami also called for close monitoring of traffic using drones and AI tools and urged officials to tackle fake news and misleading content on social media during the yatra, as per NDTV.
Back in Uttar Pradesh, district magistrate Manish Kumar Verma has been inspecting yatra preparations at Kanakeshwar Mahadev Temple in Jewar, where over one lakh devotees are expected. Routes have been revamped, potholes filled and sanitation, lighting and health facilities upgraded. Two primary routes — Jehanjirpur via Jewar Kasba to Jhuppa and Rabupura via Jhajhar to Khenda Bhaipur underpass — have been marked for heavy footfall.
Further, Rs 80 crore worth of renovation is underway at Kedarnath and other temple sites in Uttarakhand to accommodate the anticipated surge of devotees.
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