Meat shops to stay closed during Kanwar Yatra, flower petals showering to continue: UP Minister
Lucknow, July 16
Uttar Pradesh cabinet minister Dharampal Singh undertook a review meeting of police officials and administrative machinery on the upcoming Kanwar Yatra on Thursday and told newsmen in Bareilly that shops selling non-vegetarian food, including meat, fish, and mutton, will remain closed entirely during the entire stretch of the Shrawan month.
He also said that the practice of honouring the Kanwar yatris, adopted during the Yogi Adityanath government, by showering flower petals will continue this year as well, and the Chief Minister himself will participate in the exercise on a couple of occasions.
The Kanwar Yatra, the annual pilgrimage during the month of Shrawan, is set to commence in Uttar Pradesh from July 30 and culminate on August 28. Days ahead of the mega congregation of 'Kanwariyas', the Uttar Pradesh administration and police are pulling out all stops to ensure that the pilgrimage remains safe, secure and hassle-free for yatris.
The Cabinet Minister, after the review meeting, issued a set of directives to the respective departments and officials to streamline the Yatra route and minimise hindrances along it.
He said that approximately 7,000 jathas (groups) will set out on the Kanwar Yatra within Bareilly district. A nodal officer has been appointed for every group. Arrangements have been put in place at the beginning of the journey itself; however, if any pilgrim from Bareilly faces any issue in Budaun or another district, the Bareilly police will coordinate to ensure their complete protection and security.
He said that instructions have been issued to provide medical kits to ailing pilgrims.
Social media will be closely monitored to prevent the spread of negativity or propaganda. Instructions have been issued to monitor social media for potential rumour-mongering and trouble-fomenting.
Speaking to the question of non-Hindus running eateries along the Kanwar route, he said that some individuals of a different faith engage in such tactics to 'disrupt' the pilgrimage.
"Our administration is fully prepared, deploying everything from mounted patrols to foot patrols and is actively identifying such individuals," he stated.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Good to see proper arrangements for Kanwariyas - medical kits, nodal officers, security coordination across districts. UP government is taking this seriously. The flower petals showering by CM is a nice touch. But monitoring social media for "negativity" - hopefully it's just about preventing rumors and not suppressing genuine concerns. 🙏
Why target only non-vegetarian food? What about the millions of non-Hindus who also need to eat during this month? Why not create a system where shops can operate discreetly rather than a blanket ban? This kind of imposition creates resentment. India is a secular country, not a Hindu one. We need balance between religious sentiments and individual freedoms. 😤
I'm from Bareilly and this is a huge event here. Having 7,000 jathas is no joke. The administration really needs to coordinate well. I'm glad they're posting nodal officers for each group. But the minister's remark about "non-Hindus disrupting the pilgrimage" is concerning - that's pure political polarization. Most local shopkeepers of all faiths cooperate during festivals. Let's not paint everyone with the same brush. 🙏
Interesting how India manages these massive religious events with such organization. Coming from the US, we'd never have government officials coordinating flower petal showers! The security coordination across districts is impressive. But the "monitoring social media" and targeting specific communities is worrying - sounds like a recipe for censorship and religious tension. 😐
Finally someone talking about medical
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