Major traffic changes in Delhi as Kanwar Yatra enters final phase. Routes to avoid
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Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
KV Dham ready to welcomedevotees on 3rd Shrawan Monday
Varanasi: Preparations for third Monday of Shrawan were finalised in Kashi amid pleasant weather conditions as saffron-clad started converging in large numbers on Sunday. Officials were busy enforcing traffic and crowd regulation arrangements, while Vishwanath Gali traders association began preparations to facilitate 'jalabhishek' ritual. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In view of directives of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who will be in the city on Monday, officials were enhancing facilities for pilgrims and Kanwariyas to ensure easy and safe visits during overcast conditions and in case of heavy rains on the third Monday. Special attention was paid to proper sanitation, the availability of drinking water, and necessary resources on the routes leading to Kashi Vishwanath Dham. Officials also kept a sharp vigil on Kanwariya camps. K ashi Vishwanath Temple authorities are ensuring opportunity for pilgrims to get a glimpse of Lord Vishwanath adorned in different forms every Monday of Shrawan. The temple's chief executive officer, Vishwa Bhushan Mishra, said that on third Monday of Shrawan, the deity will be adorned in special form of 'Ardhanarishvara' during the evening Shringar Aarti. Meanwhile, police commissioner Mohit Agrawal and other senior officials were busy monitoring arrangements finalised for managing the crowd, especially on Mondays of the auspicious month. A no-vehicle zone was created between Maidagin and Godowlia as queues of devotees, especially Kanwariyas, began to form from Sunday evening to offer Jalabhishek on the third Monday at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Traffic restrictions and diversions were already implemented on main routes of Vishwanath Dham from Saturday night. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Officials mentioned that to avoid problems, especially for elderly and disabled visitors in reaching the temple from Godowlia and Maidagin points, temple administration will operate e-rickshaws up to Gate-4 of Kashi Vishwanath Dham. All other arrangements, including a lost and found centre with multilingual staff, medical and ambulance services in case of emergencies, sheds and German hangers, have been in place since the beginning of Shrawan to protect from weather conditions, including rain, sun, and heat. For the convenience of devotees, live broadcasts of the sanctum sanctorum's worship are being shown on LED TVs at several locations. Agrawal said women police officers had been deployed on all Kanwar routes. Additionally, large number of women police constables have been stationed. Extra women police forces are deployed at all police stations, permanent and temporary police posts. Furthermore, women police are stationed at Kashi Vishwanath Temple and ghats. Police personnel have been trained in soft skills to ensure they interact with all devotees with respect and courtesy, and assist them in all necessary ways. Women police personnel have been trained on various aspects for safety, respect, empowerment and self-reliance of women and children. For crowd surveillance, eight drones and over 2,000 CCTV cameras are being utilised.
Hindustan Times
6 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Lost in Kanwar noise, devotion to the divine
Let me share three snapshots from the biggest pilgrimage during the monsoon season in North India. Scene 1: Modinagar, Ghaziabad district: The Kanwar procession stood still with hundreds of devotees clapping and surrounding a woman and her physically challenged husband chanting 'Har Har Mahadev'. The reason? This villager, Asha Devi, was undertaking Kanwar pilgrimage carrying her husband on her back. She believed it would not only cure him of his disability but also fetch him a job. Scene 2: Lachhiwala in Dehradun: A large contingent of Kanwariyas is resting with boom speakers playing devotional songs inspired by Bollywood music. A large elephant emerges from the neighbouring Rajaji National Park and charges at them. Utter pandemonium ensues. After flipping a tractor trolley the elephant retreats into the jungle. Wildlife experts say high decibel sounds disturbs the sleep pattern of wild animals, making them irritable and aggressive. Scene 3: Mirzapur: A video of young Kanwariyas in which they are roughing up a soldier has gone viral. The man in uniform isn't giving in. Each time he falls, he gets up to take on his attackers. The video evokes memories of the disturbed areas in Kashmir and the North East. Tell me which one would you like to witness in your neighbourhood. I guess none! I have nothing against the Kanwar processions. I am a Hindu — by birth and in deeds. I have endured long queues leading to the temple in the freezing cold, pouring rains and oppressive heat. I have walked for miles carrying my young children in my arms so they can take a dip at Triveni (the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati). Even today I feel rejuvenated and complete after undertaking the Panch Kedar journey performing the rudrabhishek. I have no doubt that 99% of the people participating in such a pilgrimage are inspired by deep devotion to the divine. Unfortunately, miscreants and anti-social elements are able to muscle their way in such journeys of faith targeting passing vehicles and harassing the travellers, sparing not even women and children. They feel no remorse in attacking places of worship of other religions. Reel makers are a class of nuisance in themselves. They desecrate the pious and holy flavour of pilgrimage with flippant and debased behaviour. They aren't alone in abusing faith, traders and politicians alike treat it like a profitable venture. The state of Uttar Pradesh will go for village pradhan (headman) elections this year. The probables have gone out of the way to not only sponsor a large number of young men to undertake the Kanwar pilgrimage but also organised langars (community lunches) along the way. It has resulted in record crowds at Haridwar. The Uttarakhand government says this year 4.5 crore people gathered to procure Ganga water. Last year, the numbers were at 4.14 crore. It's okay to support the kanwariyas but creating inconvenience for others is where it gets tricky. Spare a thought about the ordeal of those living in almost curfew like situations. Going to school becomes a challenge. Businesses and government offices along the way come to a standstill for a fortnight. Even nights don't offer any respite. Loud music played by kanwariya boom boxes creates intense noise disturbing citizens, pets and wildlife alike. Residences along the Kanwar pilgrimage routes with elderly people in need of a good night's sleep bear the brunt of this loud and very public display of devotion. Newborns and toddlers are subjected to intense stress. The traffic jams caused by the large movement of people is a veritable nightmare for the hospital goers and those running to meet a deadline. Religion means peace and well being, not cacophony and chaos. During the past two weeks, I asked many people and found them to be favourably disposed towards the Kanwar pilgrimage. But they were uncomfortable with the growing new trends around this time of the year. The Supreme Court orders are clear that loud music should stop at 11 pm. But these processions seem above the law of the land. Anyone wanting to lodge a complaint is flummoxed whom to approach as senior police officers in uniform are seen attending and pampering the kanwariyas. Such politicisation of the bureaucracy is dangerous. The chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath, who has gone the extra mile to make the Kanwar pilgrimage more comfortable and safe, is aware of the deterioration creeping in to the age-old tradition. It's no surprise that he warned miscreants hiding behind the kanwariyas, insisting that everyone's CCTV footage was available. He said those who are trying to malign the Kanwar yatra will be exposed and their posters pasted everywhere. We should remember that apart from Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, Kanwar yatras are organised in other parts of the country. But these places don't witness such hooliganism. Not only the Kanwar yatra, many religious processions are organised throughout the country on different occasions round the year. Millions attend them but rarely do we witness such chaos and mess. I am reminded of France where once I got a chance to witness a religious procession. I saw thousands of people moving quietly in single files. It set a beautiful example that religion and spiritual peace are complementary. There's no place for noise and nuisance. At that time I thought the oldest religion in the world should also reflect maximum discipline. But why is it lacking? Hinduism and thousands of years of our Hindustaniat (Indian identity) are testimony to the fact that we always deal with our weaknesses and emerge stronger and better. I have firm belief we'll pause, reflect, and recalibrate our approach for restoring the pristine glory of the pilgrimage for present and future generations. Shashi Shekhar is the editor-in-chief, Hindustan. The views expressed are personal.
Hindustan Times
8 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Overpriced rides to fake guides: 9 scams tourists often fall for and how to avoid them
From overpriced tuk-tuk rides and fake tourist guides to misleading currency exchanges, travel scams come in many forms, and even seasoned travellers can fall for them. In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dharamveer Singh Chouhan, Co-founder and CEO, Zostel, shared some practical tips that can keep your trip stress-free and scam-proof. (Also read: Woman shares how she 'gets free stuff at airport without being weird'; here are her top 5 travel hacks ) Check out essential travel tips to avoid common tourist traps. (Freepik) 1. Taxi meter tricks ● Drivers claim the meter is broken, take a longer route, or quote flat, inflated fares. ● Always insist on the meter or use ride‑hailing apps. At airports/stands, use prepaid taxi services. Taxi drivers may rig or fake a broken meter to overcharge tourists. (Unsplash) 2. Fake or overfriendly 'tour guides' ● People pose as official guides or helpful locals but lead tourists into shops or charge hidden fees. ● Book guides through trusted platforms, or only trust guides recommended by your hotel. 3. Distraction theft ● Someone bumps into you, drops a coin, or creates a commotion so an accomplice can pick your pocket. ● Stay aware. Keep valuables secure and use bags that close properly. 4. Bracelet / 'free gift' trick ● A stranger ties a bracelet or gives a 'gift,' then asks for money. ● Politely decline any unsolicited gifts. There's almost always a catch. 5. Gemstone or souvenir scams ● Tourists are convinced to buy gems or souvenirs that are overpriced, fake, or of low quality. ● Research standard prices, stick to reputable shops, and never feel pressured. 6. Fake 'police' or ticket inspectors ● Imposters posing as officials accuse tourists of minor violations and demand bribes. ● Stay calm, ask for their official ID, and offer to go to a police station instead. 7. Fake booking sites/hidden fees ● Sites that mimic legitimate booking platforms lure travellers with low prices, only to add hidden charges. ● Double-check URLs, read reviews, and pay only via secure, trusted portals. Use trusted services, count money carefully, and research common scams to ensure a safe and enjoyable trip.(Pixabay) 8. Currency exchange manipulation ● Street exchangers shortchange you using sleight of hand or wrong rates. ● Only exchange money at authorised counters; always count the money in front of the clerk. 9. 'Alternate tour' scam ● Drivers claim your hotel or a site is closed and secretly redirect you to partner businesses for commissions. ● Use Google Maps to track your route in real-time. Politely decline sudden 'recommendations.' Book rides through trusted apps where possible. More tips: ● Always trust your instincts. If it feels off, walk away. ● Research common scams in your destination before you go. ● Use authorised services, count all money and change carefully, and secure your valuables.
