The Kanwar Yatra, a centuries-old Hindu pilgrimage dedicated to Bhagwan Shiv, annually sees millions of devotees, known as Kanwariyas, walking barefoot with Gangajal from Haridwar and other sacred rivers to offer it at Shiv Mandir across Bharat. The 2025 Kanwar Yatra, however, has found itself at the centre of intense socio-political debate, marred by deliberate attempts to defame the sanctity of the religious journey through violence, misinformation, and infiltration by anti-social elements.
CM Yogi Adityanath’s Stand
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath strongly condemned efforts to defame the Kanwar Yatra, promising strict action against infiltrators posing as devotees. CM Yogi stated, “Troublemakers have resorted to defame this holy pilgrimage. We have CCTV footage of such elements. We will paste their posters after the yatra is over. Any attempt to disrupt the yatra or compromise its sanctity will be dealt with strictly.”
Yogiji further emphasised the significance of the Kanwar Yatra in our tradition.
Demonstrating respect for the devotees, the CM showered petals on them from helicopters. He called on every Shiv bhakt and Kanwar Sangh to be vigilant and report infiltrators, stating, “Do not allow them to enter your circle. Immediately inform the administration if you spot such people.”
Despite its peaceful and devotional nature, the Kanwar Yatra has repeatedly faced attacks both physically and ideologically.
Disguised as Hindus
One of the most alarming revelations came from Muzaffarnagar, where police arrested five Muslim men, Suhail, Sher Khan, Asif, Abid, and another Asif, who had posed as Kanwariyas with the intention of spreading chaos. Disguised in saffron attires and using Hindu names, they infiltrated Kanwar service camps, stole belongings of devotees, and planned to disrupt communal harmony.
Revealing this fact, SSP Sanjay Verma stated, “These men intended to hurt religious sentiments and incite violence. Their arrest averted a larger conspiracy.”
- July 13, 2025, Delhi: Glass shards were allegedly strewn along a Kanwar Yatra route to harm barefoot devotees. Though the perpetrators remain unidentified, online platforms speculated the involvement of anti-Hindu elements.
- July 18, 2025, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh: A group of Kanwariyas was ambushed near Dandesarh village by local miscreants wielding bricks, sticks, and sharp weapons. Several devotees were injured in the violent clash.
- July 1, 2024, Harpur (Bulandshahr Road), Uttar Pradesh: Kanwariyas were targeted with stone pelting from a moving vehicle, causing injuries to several devotees. According to police, the attack seemed to be premeditated. An FIR was lodged and at least one suspect was detained for questioning.
- July 22, 2024 – Lohardaga, Jharkhand: Returning Kanwariyas were reportedly attacked near the Ranchi-Lohardaga railway crossing.
- July 22, 2024 – Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh: A minor girl involved in Kanwar Yatra preparations was assaulted near Bodhwar intersection. Stones were thrown at her and others from the local area, creating panic among participants.
- July 15, 2023 – Rampur, Uttar Pradesh: Kanwariyas returning home after offering sacred water at a Shiva temple were attacked with stones. Multiple injuries were reported, raising concerns about the safety of pilgrims.
- July 16, 2023 – Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh: Devotees participating in the Kanwar Yatra were brutally beaten with sticks and rods in Koeripur. The unprovoked attack led to injuries among several pilgrims.
- July 23, 2023 – Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh: A large mob pelted stones at Kanwariyas passing through Dariyapur village, forcing over 2,000 devotees to flee in panic. The police arrested the main accused, who had a prior record of communal violence.
- July 18, 2025 – Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh: A digital post by @theghhrc on social media alleged that a conspiracy against Kanwariyas was being planned by three men, Mohammed Nadeem, Mansher, and Rahees alias Furkan.
- Firozabad, July 21: In a disturbing incident aimed at disrupting communal harmony, unidentified miscreants allegedly threw chicken remains on the Kanwar Yatra route atop the Kotla Chungi overbridge along the Etawah road. The act, seen as an attempt to provoke sentiments during the ongoing religious pilgrimage, sparked outrage among devotees and locals alike.
Political Commentary
Samajwadi Party (SP) MLA Iqbal Mehmood raised concerns about the Yatra being hijacked by hooligans. Speaking from Sambhal, he said: “Anti-social elements have infiltrated the yatra. The tradition is ancient and we respect real devotees. But today we see more ‘hud-dangbaaz’ than Shiv bhakts.” He urged the Government to control such elements and warned against turning a blind eye, accusing the BJP of using the Yatra for political mileage ahead of the 2027 elections.
Media bias &left ecosystem’s campaign against the yatra
Over the years, the Kanwar Yatra has increasingly come under ideological attack, particularly from certain left-leaning journalists, influencers, digital media outlets, and social media users. What is largely a peaceful, devotional, and community-driven event has often been misrepresented in public discourse. Instead of portraying it as a sacred journey of faith and penance, many critics have framed it as regressive, lawless, or
politically motivated.
A closer look reveals a pattern of selective reporting, misrepresentation, and, in some cases, deliberate misinformation aimed at maligning not just the Yatra, but broader Hindu traditions.
Among the most active voices in this space has been Mohammed Zubair, co-founder of Alt News, who between 2018 and 2022 posted several edited clips of Kanwariyas dancing on roads or relieving themselves in public. These viral posts ignored the overwhelmingly peaceful nature of the pilgrimage and instead painted it as chaotic and disruptive. Similarly, The Wire published a 2018 article titled “As Devotees Run Amok…”, presenting Kanwariyas as violent mobs while failing to mention provocations or counter-attacks by local miscreants. NDTV, under Ravish Kumar, offered extensive coverage of one Kanwariya vandalism incident but rarely provided similar scrutiny to communal violence during other religious events. Critics noted a clear bias.
The Quint, in a 2019 article, labelled the Yatra as a “militant saffron mob” and a “Hindutva show of male aggression,” disregarding the inclusive and service-oriented nature of the event, where women also participate and volunteers clean roads, distribute food, and serve fellow pilgrims. The narrative was later amplified internationally, contributing to a growing anti-Hindu sentiment in global discourse.
In 2021, senior journalist Arfa Khanum Sherwani compared the Kanwariyas to the Taliban in a tweet that drew wide condemnation across political lines. Similarly, Newslaundry aired a segment mocking Bhojpuri devotional songs sung during the Yatra, calling them obscene, a move criticised as urban elitism and cultural insensitivity.
Misinformation also spread via social media. A 2023 tweet by Meer Faisal falsely accused Kanwariyas of damaging a mosque wall using an image from the 2014 Assam floods. In 2022, left-leaning Instagram influencers circulated videos falsely claiming public urination by Kanwariyas, which were later revealed to be from Holi celebrations elsewhere. The handle Hindutva Watch has repeatedly posted context-less clips of minor clashes involving pilgrims, often fuelling communal narratives.
Even mainstream platforms contributed. ScoopWhoop called Kanwar dance “cringe content,” dismissing the spiritual fervour of rural youth. Scroll claimed the Yatra’s rise was due to BJP propaganda, ignoring historical evidence, including Mughal-era support for the tradition. Meanwhile, Congress leader Ritu Chaudhary mocked the Yatra with the tweet, “Pick up a book, you don’t have to pick a Kanwar,” reflecting a classist and anti-rural tone.
These examples collectively show how the Kanwar Yatra is caught in a web of ideological narratives.
Organiser’s Ground Report
Despite the media circus, ground reports from Organiser tell a different story. The 2025 Yatra witnessed participation from diverse social groups, professionals, engineers, teachers, diploma students, nurses, and homemakers. Notably, women and young girls participated in large numbers, highlighting the Yatra’s inclusivity and refuting the narrative of it being male-dominated or aggressive.
“This is my fourth Kanwar Yatra. I am a teacher by profession, and I have taken leave to walk these 120 kilometers for Bhagwan Shiv. It is not just a pilgrimage, it is a purifying experience,” said Rakesh Sharma, a 32-year-old teacher from Noida.
Volunteers managed cleanliness campaigns, distributed food, offered medical services, and maintained decorum. “We came here not just for darshan but to serve others. Seva is also sadhana,” said Seema Yadav, a homemaker from Etawah who, along with her daughters, helped run a free langar at a highway stop.
Devotion, discipline, and Dharma were evident everywhere. The presence of children, elderly devotees, and even differently-abled pilgrims emphasised the spiritual fabric holding this tradition together.
Police efforts in maintaining order and identifying infiltrators have been commendable.
The 2025 Kanwar Yatra stands as a testament to our living spiritual traditions. Despite coordinated attempts to malign it through media bias, political gamesmanship, and actual conspiracies, the faith of millions remains unshaken. As Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said, “It is our responsibility to take this tradition forward with the same sacred sentiment.”
Efforts to vilify the Yatra must be met with factual rebuttals and grassroots unity. The successful arrests of imposters, responsible conduct of real devotees, and vibrant participation from all sections of society prove that the Kanwar Yatra is not about hooliganism, but about bhakti, seva, and resilience. Instead of defaming such traditions, all sections of society and media should recognise and celebrate the cultural soul of Bharat.
