Champawat

Expecting a footfall of more than 5 crore pilgrims during the holy month of Shravan, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Thursday assured that all arrangements for a safe Kanwar Yatra have been made by the state administration.

"This time, we expect more than 5 crore in Kanwar Yatra. No matter how many Lord Shiva devotees come, everyone is welcome”, Dhami said.

Uttarakhand administration on Wednesday announced objects like swords and tridents will be prohibited during the yatra.

The local police have been instructed to seize any such material.

The 'Kanwar Yatra' is an annual pilgrimage of Lord Shiva's devotees that started on Thursday.

The pilgrims called Kanwariyas visit places like Haridwar, Gaumukh and Gangotri in Uttarakhand and Sultanganj in Bihar to fetch the holy water of River Ganga. They then worship Lord Shiva with the same water.

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In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the Kanwar Yatra in 2021 was cancelled in Uttarakhand.