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Kavadias flock to Rishikesh, Hardwar

Staff Correspondent

DEHRA DUN: Neelkanth, Rishikesh and Hardwar areas have been converted into one massive pilgrimage site as thousands of colourfully dressed `Kavadias' are reaching every day for a holy dip in the Ganga and offering prayers to Lord Shiva.

They stay here for a few days and then carry Ganga Jal in the Kavads to be offered to Lord Shiva in the Shivalaya of their choice.

The administration has introduced a traffic plan according to which vehicles passing through Rishikesh, Hardwar or Roorkee will have to take alternative routes from Saturday. This means that the Delhi-Hardwar or Dehra Dun road stretch which is normally covered in about five hours will take anything between nine and 12 hours.

The alternative roads passing through villages are bumpy and full of pot holes. The drivers will also have to be extra careful to drive safely through stretches where cattle, poultry or small children suddenly appear in the middle of the road, a senior transport department official said.

Neelkanth, near Rishikesh, has come alive with hundreds of saffron-clad Kavadia's moving around with finely decorated Kavads or wearing masks. The police have put up barricades at several places and the boats used to cross the Ganga at Swarg Ashram and other places have been stopped to prevent accidents due to overloading.

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Kavadias flock to Rishikesh, Hardwar

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