Haridwar: A unique display of devotion, service, and hospitality marked Tuesday’s Kanwar Yatra in Haridwar, as the Uttarakhand government, led by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, welcomed Shiva devotees from across the country with flower showers, ceremonial foot washing, and public honours. The Chief Minister also inaugurated a health service camp and personally served meals to pilgrims.
Upon his arrival, flowers were showered from a helicopter over the route stretching from Har Ki Pauri to the Kanwar Yatra corridor. Later, at a ceremony held in the Alaknanda Hotel premises, the Chief Minister ceremonially washed the feet of five Kanwar pilgrims and honoured them. He also inaugurated the Chief Minister’s Health Service Camp and inspected the medical facilities available there.
The Chief Minister said the Uttarakhand government’s commitment is to ensure that every Shiva devotee visiting the state experiences a safe, convenient, and respectful environment. He described the Kanwar Yatra as not merely a religious event but a grand celebration of Sanatan culture, social harmony, and spiritual consciousness. According to him, more than 10 million devotees have already collected Ganga water and begun their journeys to their destinations this year.
He said that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, major religious sites across the country have undergone extensive development. Projects such as the reconstruction of Kedarnath Dham, Kashi Vishwanath Dham, Mahakal Lok, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi, and the Badrinath Master Plan have given India’s spiritual heritage a renewed identity.
The Chief Minister said that ensuring the safety of pilgrims remains the government’s highest priority. CCTV cameras, drone surveillance, ambulances, health camps, and emergency assistance have been deployed extensively along the pilgrimage route. He also appealed to devotees to maintain discipline and uphold the sanctity of the pilgrimage.
During the programme, the Chief Minister honoured five police personnel and five sanitation workers for their contribution to the successful management of the Kanwar Yatra. He said the recognition symbolises the state’s gratitude toward all those working tirelessly to ensure the pilgrimage remains safe, clean, and well-organised.
