All Eateries on Kanwar Routes Across UP Must Display Owners' Names: CM Yogi Adityanath

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday directed that all eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route must display the names of their owners. This decision follows a day after the police in Muzaffarnagar withdrew their orders in response to opposition backlash. The directive mandated that food and beverage shops along Kanwar routes display the name and identity of the operator/owner to maintain the sanctity of the pilgrims' faith. 
 

The Chief Minister's office has informed that a major step has been taken for Kanwar pilgrims. It said, “A 'nameplate' will have to be put on the food shops on the Kanwar routes across UP. This decision was taken to maintain the purity of the faith of Kanwar pilgrims." 

As per the directive, vendors selling products with Halal certification will face regulatory action to enforce the new rules.

Preparations are in full swing across Uttar Pradesh as the Kanwar Yatra is scheduled to commence on July 22.

Meanwhile, Uttarakhand Police have also issued instructions requiring eateries along the Kanwar Yatra routes to display the names of their owners.

Earlier on Monday, Muzaffarnagar Police chief Abhishek Singh said, "Preparations of Sawan month have started in the district. About 240 km of Kanwar Yatra route falls in the district. All the eateries, including hotels, dhabas and carts, on the route have been asked to display the names of their proprietors or those working on these shops."

"This has been done to ensure that there should be no confusion among kanwariyas and no law and order situation arises. All are following this voluntarily," he told.

DIG Saharanpur Ajay Kumar Sahni said, “Instances have come to light earlier that Kanwarias had arguments over rate list for food at hotels and dhabas. Besides this, there have been instances where non-veg is available at some hotel/dhaba or a person of some other community has opened a hotel/dhaba under some other name and this has led to issues. In the wake of that, it was decided that the name of the proprietor/owner of shops/hotels/dhabas would be written clearly on the boards, rate lists would be written clearly and names of workers would also be written clearly so that no issues of any kind arise...Talks had been held with everyone, and all hotels/dhabas have agreed to it...This has been decided for our Kanwar route.”

However, the move had drawn sharp criticism from the opposition parties who have accused the UP Govt of singling out one community.

Earlier on Thursday, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav labelled the order as a "social crime" and called for court intervention, questioning the intention behind the government and administration's actions.
"What will be known from the name of the person whose name is Guddu, Munna, Chhotu or Fateh? The honourable court should take suo-motto cognizance investigate the intention of the government behind such administration, and take appropriate punitive action. Such orders are social crimes that want to spoil the peaceful environment of harmony," he said in a post on X.

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi condemned the order, likening it to apartheid and Nazi-era practices, and challenged Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to issue a written order if he has the "courage."

What is Kanwar Yatra?

The Kanwar Yatra is a major Hindu pilgrimage observed by devotees of Lord Shiva. During this annual event, millions of devotees, known as Kanwariyas, travel on foot to the holy shrines of Shiva, particularly in Haridwar, Gaumukh, and other sacred sites along the Ganges River. The yatra typically involves carrying water from the Ganges or other holy rivers in kanwars (bamboo or metal pitchers) and offering it at Shiva temples.

The Kanwar Yatra generally takes place during the Hindu month of Shravan (also known as Sawan), which usually falls in July or August. The pilgrimage lasts for about a month, and the peak of the yatra is around the full moon day, known as Sharavan Purnima. In 2024, the Kanwar Yatra is set to begin on July 22.

Routes of Kanwar Yatra

During the Kanwar Yatra, devotees follow several key routes in Uttar Pradesh. The primary Kanwar Yatra routes in UP include:

Haridwar to Meerut: Many pilgrims start their journey from Haridwar, where they collect holy water from the Ganges and travel through cities like Meerut on their way to their final destination.

Haridwar to Mathura: Another major route is from Haridwar to Mathura, passing through towns such as Agra and Etawah.

Haridwar to Varanasi: Some pilgrims travel from Haridwar to Varanasi, which is another important religious site for Shiva worship.

Haridwar to Kanpur: This route involves traveling through Kanpur, which is a major city along the way to various destinations.

Haridwar to Lucknow: Pilgrims also travel from Haridwar to Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh, as part of their journey.

These routes are marked by numerous rest stops, temples, and camps set up for the convenience of the devotees. The state of Uttar Pradesh often sees significant traffic and preparations to accommodate the large influx of pilgrims during the yatra.