With increasing incidents of kanwariyas assaulting civilians, using abusive language, and disrupting public order, raising serious concerns over the rising aggression during the annual pilgrimage, more than 170 pilgrims have been booked under various charges in just five days since the Kanwar Yatra began on July 11.
Traditionally observed as a journey of devotion and penance, the yatra is now witnessing a surge in violence and unlawful conduct that is drawing criticism from both authorities and religious leaders, The Wire reported.
Data from the Mela police force control room indicates that the charges include hooliganism, rioting, blocking highways, obstructing police officials, breach of peace, and wrongful restraint. Law enforcement agencies along the yatra route have struggled to manage crowds as groups of kanwariyas have been accused of engaging in violent confrontations, threatening residents, and using vulgar language in public spaces.
The pilgrimage, traditionally associated with penance and religious discipline, has increasingly come under scrutiny as certain processions take on the character of unruly street displays, disrupting traffic and provoking clashes. In some instances, kanwariyas have reportedly attacked drivers, shopkeepers, or bystanders who did not comply with their demands, while others have resisted police attempts to maintain order.
Religious bodies, disturbed by this turn of events, have appealed to devotees to remember the yatra’s spiritual roots and to conduct themselves with restraint. They warn that the current trend threatens to distort the original meaning of the pilgrimage, which is deeply rooted in ideals of service, sacrifice, and humility.
Meanwhile, the Uttarakhand High Court has sought responses from the state’s Director General of Police and the Panchayati Raj Department secretary regarding plans to maintain order during the yatra, especially as the state prepares for upcoming Panchayat elections amid heavy monsoon rains.