Haridwar: Schools shut from 10-17 July due to Kanwar Mela
Haridwar district administration ordered the closure of all schools from class 1-12 from July 10-17, in view of Kanwar Mela. District Magistrate Dheeraj Garbyal said, "In view of the Kanwar Mela, the District Magistrate has decided to close all the schools and Anganwadi centres from July 10 to 17." Separately, schools, colleges, and other educational institutes have been closed in Muzaffarnagar till 16 July in view of Kanwar Yatra. This year, the Kanwar yatra commenced on 4 July with Shiva devotees from across the country making a beeline for Haridwar to collect holy water from the Ganga.
The Kanwariyas will head back after collecting the water and perform 'jalabhishek' in Shiva temples on the occasion of Shiva Trayodashi. Elaborate security arrangements have been made by the Uttarakhand government because of Knawar Yatra. The Kanwar fair area has been divided into 12 super zones, 33 zones, and 120 sectors, said Deputy Inspector General, Garhwal Range, V Murugesan.
Seven companies of paramilitary personnel, 12 PAC companies, and 10,000 police personnel are being deployed in the area. Bomb disposal and dog squads have also been deployed in Haridwar. The security forces will keep a vigil with the help of nearly 300 CCTV cameras.
Kanwar Yatra is a significant ritual during the month of Sawan. People gather water from sacred rivers for this rite and place it in little mud pots known as Kanwars. Devotees don saffron-coloured clothes while carrying the holy water and walk on foot to visit temples dedicated to Lord Shiva.
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