Last year, the BJP governments of Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh had showered rose petals from helicopters on Kanwariyas, seasonal pilgrims from across north India who collect Ganga water from Haridwar and pour it on Shiva idols at temples of their choice during the return journey.
This year, to prevent their entry in lockdown season, the Uttarakhand government has posted armed police on the state’s boundaries — primarily the Uttar Pradesh border through which most Kanwariyas come.
“We have identified 10 points from where the Kanwariyas enter Haridwar from Uttar Pradesh,” Haridwar senior superintendent of police D. Senthil Abudai Krishnaraj S told reporters on Sunday, a day before the traditional start of the Kanwar Yatra pilgrimage.
“Besides the police, three companies of the Provincial Armed Constabulary have been stationed to prevent their entry.”
The saffron-clad Kanwariyas carry poles on their shoulders with vessels suspended from either end, in which they collect Ganga water.
They travel on foot to and from Haridwar, usually in groups.
The Kanwar Yatra pilgrimage takes place across the Hindi month of Shrawan, which this year begins on July 6.
However, not all Kanwariyas travel to Haridwar — some collect Ganga water from points close to their home and offer it at the nearest Shiva temple.
Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath, a Shaivite monk himself, has appealed to all Kanwariyas to do just that this year.
Uttarakhand government spokesperson Madan Kaushik said: “Chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat has spoken to his counterparts in Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan. He has told them his government would provide Ganga water from Haridwar in vessels to their states for the Kanwariyas. They can offer it to the God at their own places.”
Uttarakhand government sources said that truckloads of Ganga water would be sent to these states, probably from the second week of July, but they would have to pay for it.
Haridwar sub-divisional magistrate Puran Singh Rana said the administration had asked traders and local elected representatives to alert the police whenever they spotted a Kanwariya.
“We also appeal to the people in general to spread the message that the Kanwar Yatra has been postponed across the country because of Covid-19,” he said.
“Postponed” is a euphemism since the pilgrimage cannot take place after Shrawan.
The 10 entry points to Haridwar that have been sealed are Purkazi, Narsan, Tejjupura, Lakhnauta, Telpura, Mandawar, Kali Nadi, Balawali, Saptarishi and Chiriyapur.