Kanwariyas form human chain to let Muslim man's funeral procession cross highway

In a display of harmony between two religious communities, thousands of Kanwariyas halted their yatra to let a Muslim man's funeral procession cross the Delhi-Dehradun highway. Shiva devotees carrying holy Ganga water from Haridwar walk along the Delhi-Meerut Road during the Kanwar Yatra.

(HT Photo/representational)The incident reportedly took place in Siwaya village of Meerut district of Uttar Pradesh on Sunday, when a large number of Kanwaryias paused their procession to allow the mourners to pass first. The funeral procession of 40-year-old Nizam, who died of heart attack.

What Happened

However, the highway was packed with thousands of Shiva devotees undertaking the Kanwar yatra. The villagers also sought the help of local police.

• The celebrations across the different locations marked the occasion of Sawan Shivratri, with devotees visiting temples to offer prayers and participate in religious rituals.

• The occasion witnessed devotees turning up at temples in large numbers, with queues formed at several shrines as people waited for their turn to offer prayers and perform rituals.

• Devotees waited in queues to offer prayers and perform rituals at the various shrines across the country.

Key Details

Daulatabad police station in-charge Suman Kumar Singh was also present at the scene to ensure peaceful transit. Many Kanwariyas took charge of the situation and formed a human chain, also urging others to halt the yatra.

• Kanwariyas also gathered at the Baba Augarnath Temple in Meerut to perform Jalabhishek, a key ritual performed by Shiv devotees.

• In Varanasi, devotees took a holy dip in the Ganga before offering prayers at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple.

• On Tuesday, the Kanwariyas observed Sawan Shivratri, offering prayers and performing Jalabhishek at temples in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Delhi and Haryana.

Why It Matters

Thousands of devotees across India have been travelling to prominent Shiva temples to mark the auspicious month of Sawan.

• The Shiv devotees resumed their yatra once the Muslim funeral procession had passed.

What Reports Say

Coverage of the story so far points to:

• Continued reporting by Hindustan Times as more details emerge