UP bans tridents, hockey sticks during Kanwar Yatra following string of clashes

‘Kanwars’ are placed on a road during the annual ‘Kanwar Yatra’ in the holy month of ‘shravan’, in Haridwar. | Photo Credit: PTI

Following a string of clashes and incidents of vandalism during the pilgrimage, the Uttar Pradesh Police have banned Kanwar Yatra pilgrims from carrying sticks, tridents, hockey sticks and using motorbikes without silencers in parts of the state.

The restrictions were imposed in Saharanpur, Shamli, Muzaffarnagar, Meerut, Bulandshahr, Hapur and Baghpat as the Kanwar Yatra progresses through several districts in Uttar Pradesh, with thousands of devotees travelling by foot and by vehicle to collect holy water from the Ganga.

Several vehicles carrying DJs for Kanwar Yatra, exceeding the prescribed height limit of 10 feet were stopped by the police and made to undergo the required modifications before being allowed to travel further, The Hindu reported citing top state government officials.

As many as 55 DJ setups were found to have heights ranging from 12 to 16 feet, posing a significant risk to overhead power lines, traffic flow and public safety. The police promptly issued instructions for the immediate modification of these vehicles. Complying with police directives, all concerned operators carried out the necessary modifications to their DJ setups on the spot, bringing them within the stipulated height standards, reported the same publication.

The Yogi Adityanath government said that an estimated 60 million devotees, including seven million women, are expected to cross the Kanwar route in the state for the annual Kanwar Yatra.

Uttar Pradesh said it is implementing a women-centric security model by deploying over 10,000 women police personnel along the Yatra route. Female constables have also been made a mandatory part of Quick Response Teams (QRTs), including during night shifts. QRT patrolling has been intensified along key routes, and female officers are now monitoring special 24x7 control rooms and helplines across zones.

“In a first, over 10,000 women police personnel including 8,541 head constables and 1,486 sub-inspectors — have been deployed along the Yatra route, forming nearly 15 percent of the total force on the direction of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Around six crore devotees, including an estimated 60–70 lakh women, are expected to take part in the Yatra. In response, CM Yogi ordered the implementation of a women-centric security model,” reads a statement issued by the state government.