Kanwar Yatra: Schools in Ghaziabad to remain shut, security beefed up

Kanwar Yatra is an annual pilgrimage of Lord Shiva's devotees known as Kanwars, who visit Haridwar, Gaumukh and Gangotri in Uttarakhand and Sultanganj in Bihar to fetch holy waters of the River Ganga during the auspicious Hindu month of Shravan. (PTI)

Security has been beefed up in districts of western Uttar Pradesh like Gautam Buddh Nagar, Ghaziabad, Bulandshahr and Meerut for the annual pilgrimage. (Express photo by Amit Mehra)

This year, the yatra began on July 17. Over 200 camps have been built in Delhi in the past few weeks for kanwarias who will cross the city on their way back home, carrying pots of water from the Ganga in Haridwar. (Express photo by Amit Mehra)

To ensure smooth conduct of the yatra, more than 200 CCTV cameras and 90 surveillance drones have been deployed along the pilgrimage route besides putting in place other security measures. (Express photo by Amit Mehra)

All liquor and meat shops along the route of the annual pilgrimage would also remain closed for 15 days, beginning July 17. (Express photo by Amit Mehra)

A Kanwar Yatra app on provides details of medical facilities, police stations, temples, hospitals and camps available over the 130-km route. (PTI)

In 2018, nearly 4 crore kanwars had reached Haridwar to collect holy water which they walked back with to faraway states. (PTI)