Mahadangal: Kanwar Yatra Begins With Devotion and Disputes in Haridwar | ABP NEWS

The holy month of Sawan has begun, and with it, the sacred Kanwar Yatra is in full swing. Thousands of devotees of Lord Shiva have started their journey from Haridwar, carrying Gangajal. However, controversies surrounding the yatra continue to intensify. After disputes over the identification of dhaba and hotel owners, another issue has surfaced regarding the sale and production of kavads (decorative structures used to carry Gangajal). Swami Yashveer Maharaj has stirred a major controversy by claiming that many kavads sold in Haridwar are made by people from the Muslim community. He alleged that individuals who disguise their identity and attempt to deceive devotees are hurting Hindu religious sentiments. In response, an operation titled “Operation Kalnemi” has been launched to identify such individuals and prevent them from participating in the religious ecosystem. Yashveer Maharaj questioned the silence of Islamic institutions like Darul Uloom Deoband’s fatwa department over the involvement of Muslims in what he termed "non-Islamic" practices. He emphasized that kavads are sacred items of Sanatan Dharma and must not be crafted by those whose food habits and intentions contradict Hindu beliefs. The issue has now taken a communal turn, sparking debates over faith, identity, and religious sanctity.