The annual Kanwar Yatra pilgrimage is currently underway and will conclude on August 11, 2026, on the day of Shivratri. The pilgrimage, which began on July 30, sees devotees of Lord Shiva collect holy water from the Ganges River and take it to their local temples. Due to the heavy pedestrian and pilgrimage traffic, specific advisories have been issued by authorities to ease the commute of citizens, especially in Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and Haryana.
In Delhi, the traffic police have issued an advisory warning of traffic congestion on Kalindi Kunj junction, Okhla Barrage road, Noida-Kalindi Kunj road, and the connecting roads towards Okhla Bird Sanctuary. The police have advised commuters to avoid these routes and use designated alternate corridors like NH-9 and NH-44 instead. The restrictions will be in place until August 11, 2026.
In Gurugram, Haryana, the traffic police have advised heavy vehicles to use Dwarka and KMP expressway via Panchgaon Chowk to enter Delhi, as travel corridors to Rajasthan, Jhajjar, Rewari, Pataudi, Nuh, and Faridabad may be affected. This advisory is in effect until August 11, 2026.
In Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, the traffic police have restricted the Delhi-Meerut Expressway (DME) for general traffic on August 10 and 11, 2026, due to the large number of Kanwar pilgrims on NH-58/Delhi-Meerut route. The police have advised locals to use NH-09 instead for commuting and to use Rapid Metro (RRTS) and public transport instead of private vehicles.
The Kanwar Yatra is an annual pilgrimage where devotees of Lord Shiva collect holy water from the Ganges River and take it to their local temples, often walking barefoot for long distances. It occurs during July-August, depending on the Hindu calendar month of ‘Shravan.’
In related news, four people have been detained in Bareilly for selling non-vegetarian food along a designated Kanwar pilgrimage route. Authorities have directed traders not to sell meat, chicken, fish, and other non-vegetarian food along designated routes during the pilgrimage and warned of legal action for violations.
