“The yatra is a challenging journey, particularly for some Kanwariyas, known as Dak Kanwariyas, who do not stop to rest once the Kanwar is on their shoulders. There are sacred aspects of the pilgrimage, such as the rule that the Kanwar, once filled with holy Gangajal, must not be placed on the ground or under the shadow of a gular tree. It’s also noteworthy that a Kanwaria embarks on the Yatra after years of preparation,” stated the government in its submission.
New Delhi: Today (26th July): The Uttar Pradesh Government has strongly opposed petitions against its directive mandating shop owners along the Kanwar Yatra route to prominently display their names. In a detailed submission to the Supreme Court, the state Government stated that the directive aims to ensure a peaceful and orderly pilgrimage.
Additionally, the Government explained that the directive was issued in response to complaints from Kanwariyas about confusion caused by the names of the shops and eateries.
The Uttar Pradesh Government asserted that the directive was introduced following specific complaints from Kanwariyas. Pilgrims reportedly expressed concerns about the food served along the route, worrying about whether it was prepared according to religious practices.
“The yatra is a challenging journey, particularly for some Kanwariyas, known as Dak Kanwariyas, who do not stop to rest once the Kanwar is on their shoulders. There are sacred aspects of the pilgrimage, such as the rule that the Kanwar, once filled with holy Gangajal, must not be placed on the ground or under the shadow of a gular tree. It’s also noteworthy that a Kanwaria embarks on the Yatra after years of preparation,”
stated the government in its submission.
The Kanwar Yatra, an annual pilgrimage where devotees of Lord Shiva, called Kanwariyas, travel to collect holy water from the Ganges River, attracts millions of participants each year.
The opposition has criticized the government, labeling the directive as ‘anti-Muslim’ and accusing it of fostering societal divisions.
Devotees nationwide began their Kanwar Yatra on July 22, coinciding with the first Monday of ‘Sawan.’
Many devotees visited temples dedicated to Lord Shiva to offer prayers and took a holy dip in the Ganges to mark the first Monday of ‘Sawan.’
Devotees flocked to temples, including the Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain, the Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi, the Kali Paltan temple in Meerut, and the Jharkhandi Mahadev Temple in Gorakhpur, to offer their prayers.
On Monday, the Supreme Court issued an interim order halting the Kanwar Yatra ‘nameplate’ directive, stating that shop owners should only display the type of food served in their establishments.
A bench of Justices Hrishikesh Roy and SVN Bhatti issued notices to the governments of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Madhya Pradesh, which had implemented the ‘nameplate order.’ The bench was hearing a plea filed by the NGO, Association of Protection of Civil Rights, challenging the Uttar Pradesh government’s directive.
Last week, the Muzaffarnagar Police required all eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route to display the names of their owners. They later made this order voluntary. However, a day later, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath mandated the ‘nameplate’ order for all eateries statewide. Subsequently, the Uttarakhand Government and the Ujjain administration in Madhya Pradesh followed suit.
