The 13-day Shravan Kanwar Mela concluded on Tuesday with a record-breaking footfall of 45 million (4.5 crore) Kanwariyas, surpassing last year’s 41.4 million and 40.7 million in 2023, officials from the Kanwar Mela cell confirmed. Pilgrims continued arriving till late evening on July 23, prompting final figures to be updated accordingly.
To mark the successful conclusion, District Magistrate Mayur Dixit and SSP Pramendra Dobhal offered prayers at Har-ki-Pauri’s Brahmakund and Daksheshwar Mahadev temple in Kankhal. Officials also met with Mahant Ravindra Puri, head of the Mata Mansa Devi Temple Trust, and expressed gratitude to saints and akhadas for their support.
Massive influx of devotees caused traffic chaos in several cities, particularly in Delhi, where major congestion was reported from Anand Vihar to Apsara Border. Movement remained restricted in these areas till 8 AM on July 23.
Despite concerns over littering and garbage accumulation at ghats, Dixit announced a three-day post-mela cleanliness drive. Religious leaders called for greater awareness among devotees, emphasizing reverence for the Ganga river.
Security during the yatra was handled by an extensive deployment of forces including 3,000 policemen, 1,350 home guards, 15 PAC companies, nine paramilitary units, and multiple specialized teams such as bomb disposal squads, anti-terror units, and drone operators. Surveillance was maintained 24/7 via drones and CCTV.
Twelve FIRs were filed, 17 people arrested, and 150 unidentified Kanwariyas booked for hooliganism and violence during the yatra. DGP Deepam Seth had earlier issued a stern warning, stating that disorder in the name of faith would not be tolerated.
The Uttarakhand High Court also intervened during the yatra, seeking clarity from state authorities on conducting Panchayat elections amid the Kanwar rush and heavy monsoon. The court was responding to a PIL filed by a Dehradun-based petitioner urging a rescheduling of elections due to logistical and safety concerns.
