UP Government Defends Shop Name Display Mandate for Kanwar Yatra Amid Legal Challenges
Lucknow, 26th July 2024: The Uttar Pradesh government has strongly defended its mandate requiring shop owners along the Kanwar Yatra route to prominently display their names against legal challenges.
In a comprehensive submission to the Supreme Court, the state clarified that the directive aims to ensure a smooth and orderly pilgrimage.
The state government explained that the directive was a response to complaints from Kanwariyas about confusion caused by the names of shops and eateries.
“The yatra is a demanding journey where some Kanwariyas, known as Dak Kanwariyas, do not stop to rest once the Kanwar is on their shoulders. There are sacred aspects of the pilgrimage, such as the rule that the Kanwar, once filled with holy Gangajal, must not be placed on the ground or under the shadow of a gular tree. It should also be noted that a Kanwaria embarks on the Yatra after years of preparation,” the government stated.
The Kanwar Yatra is an annual pilgrimage where Lord Shiva devotees, known as Kanwariyas, travel to collect holy water from the Ganges River, attracting millions of participants each year.
The Uttar Pradesh government asserted that the directive was in response to specific complaints from Kanwariyas, who had raised concerns about the food served along the route, questioning its preparation according to religious practices. Critics have accused the government of issuing the directive to create societal divisions and have labelled it ‘anti-Muslim.’
Devotees across the country began their Kanwar Yatra on July 22, coinciding with the first Monday of ‘Sawan.’
Many devotees visited temples dedicated to Lord Shiva to offer prayers and took a holy dip in the Ganga to mark the first Monday of ‘Sawan.’
Devotees gathered at 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 to offer their prayers.
