Kanwar Yatra: All educational institutions in UP's Muzaffarnagar to remain closed from July 16 to 23
District Magistrate Umesh Mishra told reporters that the decision has been taken to ensure smooth conduct of the annual religious pilgrimage and to avoid any inconvenience to students and staff during the festival period.
'All schools and colleges in the district will remain closed from July 16 to July 23, 2025. Strict action will be taken against any institution found open during this period,' Mishra warned.
Kanwar Yatra, which sees a large number of kanwariyas travelling on foot to collect sacred water from the Ganga river and offer it at Shiva temples, witnesses heavy movement and heightened security arrangements across western Uttar Pradesh, including Muzaffarnagar.
The administration has appealed to all educational institutions to strictly comply with the order.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
19 minutes ago
- India Today
5 states, 12 cities: What Kanwar Yatra 2025 tells us about modern bhakti
The curtain falls on this year's Kanwar Yatra, one of India's most popular pilgrimages. While faith drives the journey, of course, rising incidents of violence and vandalism beg the question: what's behind the burdened shoulders of those who embark on the long, strenuous journey?Outside the yatra, they are bike mechanics, AC technicians, small business owners, street vendors, homemakers, retired workers and even engineers. But during the pilgrimage, they are showered with rose petals and flanked by police some walk to promote and preserve their culture, the health and well-being of their families, some walk for unity, peace, and the betterment of the country. India Today spoke to hundreds of these devotees across Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Uttarakhand, and Jharkhand to understand what drives them. Mithun Kumar, a 19-year-old fisherman from Supaul village, embarked on the Kanwar Yatra with no planning - just faith. Budhan, all of 15 and unlettered, completed his yatra without a pause because he felt a calling two years Sikandar Sah, 55, who has been walking in the yatra for over four decades, and Shivendra Poddar, 39, who helped start a local yatra in Bihar's Balwahat, the drive was both faith and inner joy. They were all, in other words, united by a pull toward Lord they don't come from equal places. While some yatris are lawyers, professors, students, and even politicians, most are low-income gig workers, mechanics, drivers, street vendors, or hawkers. Most of the pilgrims India Today spoke to are not the ones who feel empowered on a daily basis - they struggle to be heard. But during the yatra, they are revered, abided by, and sometimes feared. The Kanwar Yatra is reflective of India's changing spiritual GALORESonu Prajapati, 30, who works in a Ghaziabad law firm, earning around Rs 2.5 lakh a year, walks to inspire people to quit consuming meat and eggs, and promote Sanatan Dharma. Meanwhile, 18-year-old Amit from Haridwar walks to get "Gau Mata" the status of "Mother of the Nation".But Prince, 30, from Delhi's Jaffarpur, walks to bathe his mother with Kanwar water. Lalit, a tile worker from Delhi educated till class 10, walks for the health of his parents. Earning less than Rs 20,000 a month, faith is likely his only currency to earn a healthy and long life for his parents. And Ankush, a Delhi teen pursuing his Bachelor of Arts, is walking to fulfil his dream of becoming an engineer - and resolve some family OR DESIRE?advertisementAnkit Bhardwaj from Faridabad used to go on the yatra on his bike. But the desire for a son made him take up the journey on foot. After he was blessed with twin sons, he set forth on foot again this year in gratitude. Santosh, 40, from Rajasthan, owns a hardware shop and earns a decent living. He participates in the yatra because he feels god has always had his Golu from Ghaziabad, who works in a furniture company and earns Rs 16,000 a month, walks out of a "deep personal feeling". Manas Kumar, from Bihar's Khagaria, who makes Rs 15,000 a month from his business, says he is driven by the "invisible power of Lord Shiva".Vijay Kumar Singh was motivated by his family who joined the yatra for generations, and by his devotion to Lord Shiva. And Sohan Chaudhary walks because he "enjoys going on the Kanwar Yatra with his family members".Similarly, Dharmdev Solanki from Rajasthan's Dausa, who owns a ration shop, says he has been going on the yatra without any expectation since he was a the blazing sun or toughing out heavy rain and storms, they walk. And some people go the extra mile. Forty-year-old Munna Bhagar from Khagaria wanted to do something special for his village temple and that's why he embarked on this spiritual journey in 1997 for the first the time, he travelled by train to Khagaria, then took a jeep to Munger ghat to collect the holy water and covered 80 km on foot without stopping. On his first yatra, four people accompanied him. Now, thousands follow him every year. While some yatris are lawyers, professors, most are low-income gig workers (PTI) A GIANT CANOPYMany walk despite the everyday hardships of middle- and lower-class existence. But some also temporarily shed their luxuries to do so. Amit Kumar and Yashwant Rawat, engineers who earn more than Rs 15 lakh annually, leave behind plush MNC offices to walk barefoot in devotion. Suresh Kumar, a Delhi bank manager, says Lord Shiva's calling cannot go teachers, housewives, and even civil construction workers like Kiran and Archana from Odisha, all echoed a recurring theme: a spiritual instinct beyond logic, class, or convenience.A POLITICAL MARCH?Not everyone walks with a personal desire; some quietly want to bring about a collective change. Ravi Jirati, 36, from Indore, with a Class 12 education, walks to promote 'Hindutva and for the prosperity of the nation'. Saurabh from Panipat wishes to see unity among Hindus - and for "gau mata".advertisementMeanwhile, 20-year-old Abhishek was jolted by the deadly terror attack in Kashmir's Pahalgam this year. He said, "I have a strong desire for unity among Hindus in our nation. The incident in Pahalgam deeply affected me. That pain remains in my heart. I have taken up the Kanwar to promote unity among Hindus."On the other hand, senior journalist Manikant Jha from Darbhanga, walks to promote and preserve the Maithili culture. He has been doing the Kanwar Yatra for the past 50 years. He says the yatra is deeply rooted in Mithila's culture -- the belief that the first water offering to Lord Shiva was made by the people of Mithila on Basant recent incidents of violence and vandalism have cast a shadow on the yatra's spiritual ethos. Visuals of Kanwariyas clashing with citizens, and recently with a Central Reserve Police Force jawan in UP's Mirzapur, have sparked people we spoke to said it was only faith and yearning to be one with God that motivated them to walk, growing instances of disruption have raised some uncomfortable questions about the evolving character of the is faith merely a private refuge, or has it become a performance for visibility, empowerment, and belonging? For many, this journey may not be about arriving at the temple at all, but more about being witnessed along the way, an endeavour they have succeeded at.(Edited by Pathikrit Sanyal)- EndsTrending Reel
Mint
an hour ago
- Mint
Are schools open today—July 23, Wednesday? Schools shut in THESE cities due to Shivratri and Kanwar Yatra; Check here
Schools in multiple states, such as Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand will be closed due to Sawan Shivratri and the ongoing Kanwar Yatra on July 23, 2025, Wednesday. The closures are primarily aimed at avoiding traffic congestion and ensuring student safety in areas expecting heavy pilgrim movement and temple crowding. In Noida (Gautam Buddha Nagar), all schools from Classes 1 to 12 will remain shut, though online classes are allowed in accordance with district administration guidelines. In Ghaziabad, schools are shut for Sawan Shivratri, with the option to conduct online sessions. Meanwhile, educational institutions in Meerut and Muzaffarnagar will remain closed until July 23, with strict enforcement measures ordered for any non-compliance. Similarly, in Hapur, Badaun, Bareilly, and Saharanpur, schools have been directed to stay closed from July 16 to July 23. In Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh), a holiday has been declared due to the large number of pilgrims visiting the Mahakaleshwar temple. In Haridwar (Uttarakhand), schools will remain closed on July 23 in light of the heavy footfall expected for the Kanwar Yatra. In Telangana, while there is no official holiday for Shivratri, a statewide bandh on July 23 has prompted most schools and junior colleges to suspend physical classes. However, in Punjab, there has been no official announcement regarding school closures for Sawan Shivratri or the Kanwar Yatra, so schools and colleges will function normally on July 23. In Delhi, there is speculation that schools may remain closed on Sawan Shivratri; however, no official confirmation has been released so far. Parents and students are encouraged to check with their respective schools for the most current updates. The decision to announce holidays in various regions is largely influenced by security measures, the establishment of no-vehicle zones, and efforts to ease congestion along routes used by Kanwariyas. While many areas have suspended physical classes, some institutions may opt for online teaching. Parents are advised to stay informed through official school communications.
Time of India
9 hours ago
- Time of India
Lights, camera, ‘I do'... Plan to make Delhi global hub for destination weddings, events
New Delhi: Aiming to turn the city into a hub for entertainment and destination weddings, Delhi govt plans to simplify the permission processes for hosting events at historical and cultural heritage sites. Minister Kapil Mishra Tuesday told TOI Delhi has several lesser-known heritage monuments that govt may open for holding functions like book launches and cultural events. "About 70-80 monuments can be effectively used for hosting cultural and private events," he said, adding, "It must be ensured the event doesn't damage the sites." The monuments include Mutiny Memorial at Northern Ridge, Dara Shikoh Library Building at Kashmere Gate, Maqbara Paik opposite GTK bus depot, the tomb at Sadhana Enclave, the pavilions (baradari) at Qudsia Garden, Vasant Vihar and Sadhana Enclave, Ghalib Haveli at Ballimaran, Chandni Chowk, and Bara Lao ka Gumbad. You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi Mishra said officials have been instructed to form a policy to make Delhi a hub of destination weddings. A senior official said Delhi has several farmhouses, hotels and banquets that make it a sought-after destination. "We want to make the permission process simpler, including for people who do wedding photography at historical places," he said. Another meeting will soon take place, in which the department will outline plans to streamline permissions, enhance infrastructure and ensure venue availability, he added. "Promoting Delhi's rich heritage sites and luxury hotels through global tourism campaigns will attract international clientele. Incentives for wedding planners, local artisans and hospitality services can boost industry participation. Improving public transport, safety and cleanliness around popular wedding spots is crucial," he said. Mishra said the officials have been directed to design a comprehensive framework under PPP to firmly position Delhi as a global event hub. The minister recently held a meeting with industry representatives, after which the decision to strengthen the city's event industry was taken. One of the proposals discussed was the launch of a digital single-window clearance system, which would enable event organisers to quickly obtain permits and licences from a single platform, he said. "Discussions covered multi-platform sponsorship models, strategic capital subsidy schemes, and financial and marketing support to promote the MICE sector," he said. While GST relaxations were suggested at the meeting, concerns were raised about the exorbitant venue rental rates in Delhi, with professionals pointing out that organisers are often charged unreasonable fees. "Govt will ensure a transparent and fair system for venue allocations," said Mishra. Participants also stressed the urgent need for Delhi to develop its own international-standard convention centre. They also suggested utilising vacant govt lands and public spaces for events. Officials from the department of art, culture and language proposed that govt-sponsored events in Delhi should be featured on commercial platforms to enhance visibility and engagement. "I will personally bring all industry concerns to CM's attention. It's time Delhi emerges not just as a historical and political capital, but also as a global event hub," Mishra said.
