Haridwar: Schools Closed From July 10-17 Due To Kanwar Mela

Due to the Kanwar Mela, the Haridwar district administration has issued an order for the temporary closure of all schools and Anganwadi centers from July 10 to July 17.

Kanwariya carrying holy water from the Ganga river.

In light of the upcoming Kanwar Mela, the district administration of Haridwar has issued an order for the temporary closure of all schools from classes 1 to 12 from July 10 to July 17. "In view of the Kanwar Mela, the District Magistrate has decided to close all the schools and Anganwadi centres from July 10 to 17," said District Magistrate Dheeraj Garbyal. Separately, Due to the Kanwar Yatra, educational institutions including schools, colleges, and other educational institutes in Muzaffarnagar have been temporarily shut down until July 16.

This year's Kanwar Yatra has attracted numerous Shiva devotees from across the country, who are flocking to Haridwar to collect sacred water from the Ganga. Following the collection of water, the Kanwariyas will return and partake in 'jalabhishek,' a ritualistic offering of water, in Shiva temples on the auspicious occasion of Shiva Trayodashi.

To ensure the safety and security of participants, the Uttarakhand government has implemented extensive security measures for the Kanwar Yatra. The Kanwar fair area has been meticulously divided into 12 super zones, 33 zones, and 120 sectors, as informed by Deputy Inspector General, Garhwal Range, V Murugesan.

Significant deployments have been made, including seven companies of paramilitary personnel, 12 PAC (Provincial Armed Constabulary) companies, and a total of 10,000 police personnel in the area. Furthermore, bomb disposal squads and trained dog squads have been positioned in Haridwar. The security forces will maintain constant vigilance with the aid of approximately 300 CCTV cameras.

The Kanwar Yatra is a significant religious pilgrimage that takes place during the month of Sawan. It involves devotees gathering water from sacred rivers to perform a ritual known as 'Kanwar.' During this ritual, the holy water is collected in small mud pots called Kanwars. The devotees, dressed in saffron-colored attire, carry these Kanwars and embark on a journey on foot to visit temples dedicated to Lord Shiva.

The pilgrimage typically includes visits to various destinations such as Haridwar, Gaumukh, and Gangotri in Uttarakhand, as well as Sultanganj in Bihar. The primary objective is to fetch the holy water from the River Ganga and use it to worship Lord Shiva.