UP Govt Justifies Kanwar Yatra Order, Says Move Was To Prevent Potential Disruptions

The Uttar Pradesh government has strongly opposed petitions challenging its directive requiring shop owners along the Kanwar Yatra route to display their names prominently. In a detailed submission to the Supreme Court, the state government stated that the directive aims to ensure a peaceful and orderly pilgrimage.

The government explained that the directive was issued in response to complaints from Kanwariyas about confusion caused by the names of the shops and eateries.

"The yatra is an arduous journey, where some Kanwariyas, i.e., the Dak Kanwariyas, do not even stop to rest once the Kanwar is on their shoulders. There are sacred features of the pilgrimage, such as the fact that the Kanwar, once filled with holy Gangajal, is not to be kept on the ground; nor under the shadow of the gular tree. It may also be noted that a Kanwaria embarks on the Yatra after years of preparation," the government stated.

The Kanwar Yatra, an annual pilgrimage where devotees of Lord Shiva, known as Kanwariyas, travel to fetch holy water from the Ganges River, attracts millions of participants each year.

The UP government claimed that the directive was introduced in response to specific complaints from Kanwariyas.

Pilgrims had allegedly raised concerns about the food being served along the route, leading to apprehensions regarding its preparation in line with religious practices.

Opposition parties have slammed the directive as "anti-Muslim" and accused the government of creating divisions within society.

Devotees across the nation began their Kanwar Yatra on July 22, coinciding with the first Monday of 'Sawan'.

Many thronged temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, offering prayers and taking a holy dip in the Ganga to mark the occasion.

Temples such as the Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain, the Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi, the Kali Paltan temple in Meerut, and the Jharkhandi Mahadev Temple in Gorakhpur saw large numbers of devotees.