Haridwar Witnesses Massive Devotee Turnout at Har Ki Pauri as Holy Dip Marks Ekadashi and Makar Sankranti

Haridwar, Jan 14:
A sea of devotees gathered at the sacred Har Ki Pauri ghat in Haridwar early Wednesday morning as thousands took a holy dip in the Ganga on the auspicious occasion of Makar Sankranti, which coincided with Ekadashi this year. From the early hours, the revered banks of the river resonated with chants and prayers, reflecting deep faith and spiritual fervour.

Anticipating a massive influx, devotees had begun assembling near the Ganga ghats from Tuesday evening itself. By dawn, bathing rituals were already underway, and Har Ki Pauri witnessed an overwhelming crowd. The district administration had earlier estimated the arrival of lakhs of pilgrims and accordingly put extensive arrangements in place to ensure safety and smooth conduct of the religious event.

Elaborate Security and Crowd Management

To manage the unprecedented footfall, the Haridwar fair area was divided into eight zones and 22 sectors, with dedicated police deployment in each sector. The entire mela area is under CCTV surveillance, supported by a well-planned traffic management system and alert security teams.

On Tuesday, District Magistrate Mayur Dixit and Senior Superintendent of Police Pramendra Singh Dobal conducted a detailed briefing of officers and personnel deployed for mela duty at Rishikul. From early morning on Wednesday, administrative and police teams were seen actively managing crowds and guiding devotees.

Focus on Coordination and Safety

DM Mayur Dixit emphasized collective effort to ensure the successful and incident-free conduct of the mela. Officers were instructed to remain vigilant about traffic flow, crowd control, and emergency response mechanisms. He also urged personnel to take care of their own health during prolonged duty hours. SSP Dobal, meanwhile, directed all officers to maintain courteous and respectful behavior toward pilgrims.

Special Vigil on Temple Routes

The administration has placed special focus on the routes leading to the Mansa Devi and Chandi Devi temples, where devotees are being allowed to proceed in an orderly, queue-based manner. For the event, a strong security force comprising 8 Deputy Superintendents of Police, 12 Inspectors, 87 Sub-Inspectors, and around 500 police personnel has been deployed. In addition, bomb disposal squads and water police teams remain on high alert.

With tight security, systematic planning, and coordinated efforts, Haridwar continues to witness a grand and peaceful celebration of one of Hinduism’s most significant bathing festivals, as faith and discipline go hand in hand on the banks of the holy Ganga.