Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: The Uttar Pradesh government has firmly defended its directive requiring shop owners along the Kanwar Yatra route to prominently display their names. In a detailed submission to the Supreme Court, the state government argued that the order was issued to ensure a peaceful and orderly pilgrimage.
The directive was reportedly issued in response to complaints from Kanwariyas, who expressed confusion over the names of shops and eateries along the pilgrimage route.
“The yatra is an arduous journey, with some Kanwariyas, especially the Dak Kanwariyas, not stopping to rest once the Kanwar is on their shoulders. There are sacred features of the pilgrimage, such as ensuring that the Kanwar, once filled with holy Gangajal, is not placed on the ground or under the shadow of the gular tree. It is also important to note that a Kanwaria embarks on the Yatra after years of preparation,” the state government explained in its statement.
The Kanwar Yatra is an annual pilgrimage where devotees of Lord Shiva, known as Kanwariyas, travel to fetch holy water from the Ganges River. Each year, millions participate in this sacred journey.
The Uttar Pradesh government maintained that the directive was introduced in response to specific complaints from Kanwariyas, who had raised concerns about the food served along the route, leading to apprehensions regarding its preparation in line with religious practices.
However, the opposition has criticized the government, labeling the directive as ‘anti-Muslim’ and alleging that it aims to create divisions within society.
Devotees across the nation commenced their Kanwar Yatra on July 22, marking the first Monday of ‘Sawan’. Many devotees thronged temples dedicated to Lord Shiva to offer their prayers and took a holy dip in the Ganges to observe the auspicious day.
Notable temples such as the Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain, the Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi, the Kali Paltan temple in Meerut, and the Jharkhandi Mahadev Temple in Gorakhpur saw large numbers of devotees gathering to offer their prayers.
