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CS urges pilgrims to maintain decorum during Kanwar yatra

CS urges pilgrims to maintain decorum during Kanwar yatra

Time of India4 days ago
Haridwar: Chief secretary Anand Vardhan on Friday urged Kanwar Yatra pilgrims to "behave as people taking part in a festival of religion and faith." He said, "There's no need to carry items like sticks," adding that the govt's focus is on ensuring every pilgrim returns home safely after the pilgrimage.
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Vardhan made the remarks during a high-level interstate meeting to review preparations for the yatra. Director general of police Deepam Seth and top officials from all departments concerned were present.
"Our goal is to conduct the yatra safely, securely, and successfully," said DGP Seth. "It is significant not just from a religious standpoint but also as a challenge in terms of law and order, crowd and traffic management, and overall security."
He added that detailed work plans have been prepared, including interstate coordination, traffic diversions, holding areas, and real-time information sharing in case of a terrorist incident or emergency.
Officials from Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh attended the meeting in person, while representatives from Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, and Rajasthan joined virtually. The discussion covered all aspects of interstate coordination, including the deployment of officials at joint checkposts.
Traffic restrictions will be implemented in phases—first, second, or third—depending on crowd pressure during the yatra. "We are fully prepared to meet all challenges and ensure the yatra is safe and secure," Seth said.
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Tight security arrangements in place for Kanwar Yatra
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  • Hans India

Tight security arrangements in place for Kanwar Yatra

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She walked 140 km for his dream: A Meerut girl's soulful journey for her army-aspiring boyfriend.
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She walked 140 km for his dream: A Meerut girl's soulful journey for her army-aspiring boyfriend.

As the month of June comes to a close and the sacred season of Sawan sets in, the spiritual fervour across North India intensifies with the onset of the annual Kanwar Yatra , which is scheduled to begin on July 11. This revered pilgrimage, devoted to Lord Shiva , sees lakhs of enthusiastic devotees—popularly known as Kanwariyas—undertaking journeys on foot to holy sites like Haridwar, Gaumukh, and Gangotri to collect sacred water from the Ganga and offer it to Shivlings back home. Among the many heartwarming stories emerging ahead of this divine journey, one tale from the Saharanpur division of Uttar Pradesh stands out and has deeply moved the public. A Young Woman's Devotion Fuels Her Journey Lakshmi, a young woman from Partapur, a locality near Meerut, has embarked on the Kanwar Yatra for an extraordinarily heartfelt cause. According to News18 , she is undertaking this challenging trek to Haridwar not just as a religious act but with a special intention: to seek divine intervention for her boyfriend, who has been trying hard to join the Indian Army but has not succeeded so far. Lakshmi's boyfriend has reportedly been preparing for military service for the past year. Despite his relentless efforts, he has not yet achieved his dream. Moved by his persistence and inspired by the sacredness of the Sawan season, Lakshmi took it upon herself to pray for his success. She believes that by offering her devotion and the holy Gangajal to Lord Shiva, she may help turn his aspirations into reality. A Spiritual Mission Powered by Friendship and Faith Lakshmi didn't undertake this yatra alone. Accompanied by her close friend Mansi, she journeyed to Haridwar on foot and successfully collected a total of 81 litres of Gangajal. With great care, they are now making their way back to Meerut, carrying the water in decorated vessels. Throughout the journey, the duo has displayed remarkable strength and determination, earning praise and blessings from fellow pilgrims and locals. Support and Admiration from the Community Their return route has become a trail of inspiration. When Lakshmi reached Shiv Chowk in Muzaffarnagar, people gathered to welcome and encourage her. Locals offered refreshments, showered petals, and applauded her dedication, turning her path into a celebration of devotion and love. The outpouring of support has transformed her spiritual mission into a community experience, filled with emotion and hope. An Offering of Faith on Shivratri Lakshmi plans to complete her pilgrimage by offering the Gangajal at the Shivling in her hometown, Partapur, on the occasion of Shivratri. With folded hands and unwavering faith, she will pray for the realisation of her boyfriend's dream to serve in the Indian Army. Her journey has not only highlighted the deep spiritual connection people share with Lord Shiva but also served as a testament to how love, faith, and hope can drive one to take on even the most demanding paths.

"Organisation which did not hoist the tricolour...": UP Cong chief Ajay Rai slams RSS over call to drop 'socialism', 'secularism'
"Organisation which did not hoist the tricolour...": UP Cong chief Ajay Rai slams RSS over call to drop 'socialism', 'secularism'

India Gazette

timea day ago

  • India Gazette

"Organisation which did not hoist the tricolour...": UP Cong chief Ajay Rai slams RSS over call to drop 'socialism', 'secularism'

Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh) [India], June 30 (ANI): Uttar Pradesh Congress President Ajay Rai on Monday slammed Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) over their General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale's statement demanding reconsideration of the terms 'socialist' and 'secular' in the Preamble of the Indian Constitution. Speaking to ANI, Rai said, 'The organisation which did not hoist the tricolour for 52 years at their headquarters, did not give importance to the tricolour, is doing a Tiranga Yatra now. RSS is helping the government in twisting the narratives.' 'This nation belongs to all, secularism belongs to all. They want to change it so they say such things,' he added. Earlier on Thursday, addressing a program on the 50th anniversary of the Emergency, RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale remarked that during the Emergency, terms like 'Socialism' and 'Secularism' were forcibly inserted into the Constitution, a move that needs to be reconsidered today. He emphasised that the Emergency wasn't just a misuse of power, but an attempt to crush civil liberties. Millions were imprisoned, and freedom of the press was suppressed. He said that those who imposed the Emergency and trampled the Constitution and democracy have never apologised. If they cannot apologise personally, they should do so on behalf of their ancestors. Hosabale was speaking at an event held at Dr Ambedkar International Centre, jointly organised by the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (under the Ministry of Culture), Ambedkar International Centre. The Congress leader also attacked the BJP government in UP over the lack of development in Varanasi and the name plate controversy during the Kanwar Yatra last year. 'The Yogi government has not done any development work. Varanasi is the Prime Minister's constituency, but no factories, schools, or universities have opened here. The government uses these tactics to hide its failures. The Yogi government is twisting the words and confusing the public. Kanwar yatra has happened before, but it was not emphasised earlier. The government deliberately want to emphasise that and is giving it a communal colour,' Rai told ANI. Last year, the UP government issued a directive requiring shop owners to display their names during the Kanwar Yatra, but the Supreme Court subsequently put a stay on the order. (ANI)

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