Viral Video: The holy month of Sawan started on the 22nd of July, and devout pilgrims, Kanwariyas, would throng to offer water to Lord Bhole Baba. Some recent reports of violence and vandalism against these devotees steeped in spiritual fervor are marring this holy journey.
Kanwariyas Attack Car in Ghaziabad
One such incident has come to light in a video going viral on social media. The video, shared by user Sachin Gupta on X, shows a jammed situation in Ghaziabad where Kanwariyas are seen attacking a car. In the video, one can see a large crowd of Kanwariyas armed with sticks, causing considerable damage to a moving car. The fight started when a Kanwariya was allegedly hit by the car, triggering the ire of the crowd.
Meerut Expressway Incident
This is not an isolated incident. On July 26, a similar scenario unfolded on the Meerut Expressway. A collision with a car, as Kanwariyas were on their way to join the Kanwar Yatra, provoked a violent reaction. A situation that quickly escalated, with the Kanwariyas not only attacking the vehicle involved but also smashing it to pieces with sticks. The aggressive behavior reportedly became uncontrolled and destructive, fanned by the collision.
These acts of vandalism bring to the fore the rising cases of Kanwar Yatra-related violence. While it is a time for pilgrimage, devotion, and peace, such incidents cast a shadow over the celebrations, pointing toward more management and awareness to ensure that the sanctity of the ritual is upheld and such confrontations avoided.