The Delhi government stated on Monday that it will establish 185 camps for Kanwars.
According to revenue minister Atishi, the majority of these camps will be located near the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border in the northeast Delhi, east Delhi, and Shahdara revenue districts, which serve as entry and exit routes for devotees.
“The Arvind Kejriwal government establishes kanwar camps throughout the city and provides excellent facilities for kanwariyas…” Each camp will be outfitted with high-quality waterproof tents, medical services, clean water, toilets, and furnishings,” Atishi stated at a news briefing at the Delhi secretariat.
“About 2 million kanwars pass through Delhi. Since the Arvind Kejriwal government was founded in Delhi, high-quality waterproof tents, medical facilities, clean water, bathrooms, furniture, and beddings have been provided so that kanwars arriving after a long journey do not have any difficulties,” stated Atishi.
According to a revenue department official, some 150 large camps have already been built, with the remaining camps scheduled to be completed by July 25.
The Kanwar yatra takes place during the Hindu calendar month of Shravan.
Thousands of pilgrims, especially from Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, go to Haridwar to collect sacred Ganga water before returning to their hometowns to dedicate it to Lord Shiva at famous temples. This year, the yearly pilgrimage began on July 22 and will end on August 2.
The Delhi Traffic Police declared on Sunday that vehicular travel in areas of Delhi, particularly in the northeast, east, central, south, southwest, and north, will be restricted till August 2.
On July 18, police issued a series of cautions to organizers of kanwar camps in order to reduce the turmoil for residents.
The rules the camps have been asked to follow include a ban on playing music after 10 p.m. every night, a limit on how loud the music can be, and a stringent no-encroachment policy on roadways designated for traffic movement.
To be sure, camps and other facilities for kanwariyas have been set up in the capital for decades, but they are frequently ignored.