Record 48 million Kanwariyas visit Haridwar in 2026 Kanwar fair: Officials

In 2026, an unprecedented 48 million Kanwariyas embarked on the 14-day Shravan Kanwar pilgrimage to Haridwar, marking the largest-ever Kanwar fair in the city. Officials revealed that 4.8 crore devotees arrived from various parts of the country, with the numbers continuing to rise as of Tuesday afternoon. This significant increase in pilgrims was particularly noticeable during the pilgrimage's final two days, when 6.36 million Kanwariyas arrived on Monday alone to collect holy Ganga water for offerings at their respective Shiva lingams.

The massive influx posed considerable challenges for both the district administration and security agencies, who had to manage crowds numbering in the millions each day across Haridwar and its surrounding areas. To ensure a successful event, over 6,000 Uttarakhand police personnel joined forces with military units such as the Central Armed Police Forces, Provincial Armed Constabulary, Indian Reserve Battalion, and the Anti-Terrorist Squad.

On the concluding day of the fair, Haridwar district magistrate Mayur Dixit and Navneet Singh Bhullar, along with other religious leaders, performed rituals at Brahmakund and later offered the collected Ganga water at the ancient Shri Daksheshwar Mahadev temple in Kankhal. Ganga Sabha president Nitin Gautam praised the record-breaking turnout, emphasizing the organization's capacity to handle such a large-scale event.

This success serves as a model for the upcoming Ardh Kumbh fair, set to take place in Haridwar next year. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed his gratitude to the millions of Shiva devotees who participated in the Kanwar Mela 2026, acknowledging the unwavering faith and trust in Uttarakhand's traditions of service and hospitality.