The hustle bustle of the Kanwad Mela neared its conclusion on Sunday with Dak Kanwads rushing back to their destinations after taking the holy water of Ganga at Har ki Paidi. Till afternoon it was a mad rush on roads but by the late evening there was a break in the traffic with most of them having left Haridwar for their destinations. This year about 3.30 crore Kanwadias arrived here, breaking past records.
Sunday witnessed a deluge of Dak Kanwadias on motor bikes and other vehicles reaching the holy city to fetch water from the Ganga river to be offered at Shiva temples in their native places. Clad in saffron T-shirts and shorts, these Kanwadias could be seen everywhere in the city.
According to the police about 70 per cent of the total number of Kanwadias arrived here on vehicles during the last three days. Till noon on Sunday, it is estimated that over a lakh bikers reached Haridwar in the past 24 hours, said the police.
An eye witness to the rush, a resident of Harilok Colony, said, “I counted 55 bikers in one minute on the road leading to Haridwar Roorkee national highway.” “In the past two years there has been a major change in the influx pattern of Kanwadias and the turnout this year was more than expected. It has broken all the previous records.
Earlier it used to be 70 per cent Kanwadias on foot and 30 per cent on bikes and heavy vehicles but this time it turned out to be the other way round- 30 per cent on foot and 70 per cent on vehicles.
More than 3.25 crore Kanwadias have returned till Sunday afternoon,” said senior superintendent of police Janmejay Prabhakar Khanduri.
Bairagi camp parking and Dakshdweep for big vehicles at Rodibelwala and Pantdweep for two wheelers were bursting at the seams during the last three days, he added.
The best part was that city residents could move inside the city with controlled traffic. Most of the locals remained confined to homes fearing accidents on national highway with many of the visitors using high decibel sound systems. Meanwhile several incidents of disputes between the police and the Kanwadias who were trying to enter the city from every possible point, were also reported.
Barring a few incidents where Kanwadias entered into argument with the police, the Mela was held without any major law and order problem.
Kanwad mela pilgrims have increased phenomenally over the past few years. Taking a glance at the past years, 50 lakh visited in 2007, 60 lakh in 2008 and 75 lakh in 2009.
From the Kumbh Year 2010 their numbers reached over one crore. About 1.5 crore visited in 2011, 1.75 crore in 2012 and 1.95 crore in 2013. This year the Kanwadias broke all past records with 3.30 crore of them arriving here.