‘Hooligans Bring A Bad Name to Yatra’

Rakesh Kumar, 40, is a veteran kanwar who has made 30 trips from Haridwar to Greater Noida on foot. Kumar is disturbed that kanwariyas have now become synonymous with hooliganism and bullying en route the pilgrimage.

We, kanwariyas are worshippers of Lord Shiva. Every year, during the month of Hindu month of Shravan, we walk to Haridwar to fetch water from the Ganges for the Shiva lingas in our local temples. Over the years, while the arrangements for the kanwar yatris have improved manifold, some miscreants have tarnished the image of kanwariyas. I feel ashamed when people say that kanwariyas and hooliganism are synonymous with each other. There always are some bad elements among the kanwariyas, who unnecessarily create nuisance and pick up fights on road.

I am a veteran kanwar yatri. This year, it is my 30th trip. I started as a child at the age of 10, when I accompanied my father. And not once have I flouted any rules or picked up fights.  All these years Bhole Baba (Lord Shiva) made sure that I was safe and I made sure that stuck to his mantra. Shivji drank poison to save the world, can’t we drink our anger and egos during kanwar yatra to make it a wonderful experience, not only for us, but also for the passersby? We must remember that we’re worshipping Lord Shiva and we must stick to the principles he taught us.

The Uttar Pradesh government has provided more than what we ever asked for, so as Shivbhakts, it is our duty to maintain peace and tranquility during the yatra.

Kanwariyas are bound to obey rules. There must not be any leniency for those who flout traffic rules to indulge in brawls on the roads. 

There have been several improvements in the arrangements ever since, Yogi Adityanath came to power in Uttar Pradesh. 

Earlier, there were kanwar camps with minimal facilities and we had to go to the nearby farms to relieve ourselves. But now, each camp has portable toilets, basic medical facility and much better space to relax. With dedicated lanes for kanwariyas on the busy roads and highways, there are lesser accidents. There were days when kanwariyas used to sleep on the roads due to overcrowded camps leading to fatal accidents. But now the administration has dealt very smartly with the issue. 

Rules have been laid out to make the yatra a pleasant experience for everyone. And as responsible citizens we need to adhere to them. 

Things will get better when the kanwariyas are regularised and identification of each devotee is registered before yatra. This will also help in insurance of the kanwariyas and tracing the missing ones. I am a transporter and I know the importance of obeying traffic rules.

The government has realised that kumbh and kanwar are not just religious festivals, they attract tourists as well. If the government makes kumbh-like arrangements for kanwar yatra, there will definitely be a surge in the number of devotees (especially women). 

In the past four years, I have witnessed an increasing number of women yatris because of the   availability of toilets and other safety arrangements. If this continues, there will be a day when kanwar yatra will become an international attraction.