By Shishir Prashant 
PrashantNews
Schools in Haridwar and its adjoining areas in Uttarakhand were closed for fortnight as the annual Kanwar Yatra, one of the world’s largest religious pilgrimages, commenced on Thursday with the onset of the month of Shravan in Hindu calendar.
Tens of thousands of devotees began converging on the holy city of Haridwar to collect Ganga water for offering to Lord Shiva.
The Uttarakhand government expects more than 40 million Kanwariyas or devotees of Lord Shiva to visit Haridwar and nearby areas over the next fortnight, prompting elaborate security, traffic and crowd management arrangements. Thousands of kanwarias also travel to Gangotri and Gaumukh areas in Uttarkashi district to collect Ganga water.
Top police officials said additional police personnel have been deployed for the yatra. For the first time, cyber commandos have also been stationed to monitor social media and take swift action against misinformation and AI-generated fake videos in coordination with social media platforms. The administration faces added challenges this year due to the monsoon, ongoing highway construction works and preparations for the 2027 Kumbh Mela. All departments have completed their preparations, while special drives have been launched to curb the sale of adulterated food during the pilgrimage.
Officials said the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway will remain free from Kanwar traffic to ensure uninterrupted movement of regular vehicles.
Schools in Haridwar will remain closed from July 30 to August 11, with online classes being conducted during the period. In neighbouring Pauri district, 18 educational institutions located along the Neelkanth Mahadev route have also been ordered shut for specified periods to ensure the safety of students amid the influx of pilgrims.