Special gates at borders to welcome Kanwariyas

New Delhi: The upcoming kanwar yatra is set to be a major event in the capital this year, with Delhi govt making elaborate arrangements for the devotees. These arrangements aim to provide a comfortable place for the devotees to rest and eat in the camps that will be set up along the arterial roads and near the popular temples.

For the first time, the Delhi govt will set up 'Swagat Dwar' at the city entry points bordering Uttar Pradesh to welcome devotees with flower showers. Delhi CM Rekha Gupta, her cabinet colleagues, and members of Parliament and the legislative assembly will be present at Swagat Dwar to welcome the 'Shiv Bhakts' (the devotees of Shiva) to the city. Special cultural programmes will also be organised at these locations.

The kanwar yatra is scheduled to be held from July 11 to July 21 this year. Lakhs of devotees from northern states are expected to travel to Haridwar, Gaumukh, and Gangotri in Uttarakhand to collect holy Ganga water, which will be offered at Shiva temples close to their place of residence. While the devotees reach Haridwar, Gaumukh, and Gangotri by various modes of transport, most of them undertake strenuous journeys back home on foot, balancing pots (or containers) of water suspended at either end of a bamboo pole, which is balanced on their shoulders. Many of them also travel on bikes, and some travel on specially designed tempos. The majority of devotees are expected on the last three days of the yatra.

The Delhi govt allows social and religious groups to set up camps along the arterial roads where the devotees are provided with cots or mattresses to rest, as well as food, water, fruits, medical assistance, and mobile toilets. In 2024, 172 such camps were set up. Delhi tourism minister Kapil Mishra, heading the yatra preparations panel, said the number of camps is expected to rise this year as more groups register with the government.

"The preparations are being made on a massive scale and the govt is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that the devotees coming to or passing through Delhi have a comfortable yatra," Mishra said.

There are several firsts associated with the yatra in Delhi this year. For the first time, the Delhi govt has decided to give financial assistance directly to the committees setting up the camps, depending on their size and the number of days. This aid will reach the committees through direct bank transfer. The govt has also set up a single window system, overseen by the district magistrates, through which the committees can apply for permission to set up the camps. The applications are processed and granted permission within 72 hours. The govt has also decided to offer 1,200 units of free electricity at each camp, and the security deposit has been reduced to just 25%.

Meanwhile, Delhi govt has extended the date for the kanwar committees to submit applications seeking NOC to set up their camps from the earlier date of July 5 to July 10.CM Rekha Gupta said several kanwar committees were unable to submit their applications for various reasons. "The decision has been taken to ensure that no committee is left out and all receive proper administrative and financial support," said Gupta.

Mishra said 11-member committees, with representation from all departments involved in the preparations, have been set up in each of the 11 districts to act as nodal teams to look after the yatra. Mishra said the nodal teams, as well as the panel of legislators and other officials, will physically inspect all routes that the devotees take to ensure that debris or garbage does not pile up.