No vulgar film songs, no DJs: Yogi Adityanath releases list of strict dos and donts as kanwar yatra begins in UP

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday asked devotees participating in the kanwar yatra not to play “vulgar” film songs and appealed to people to refrain from gambling on Diwali. Those participating in the annual pilgrimage should not “show off” during the festive season, he said in Gorakhpur.

The state home department came out with a long list of dos and don’ts for the ‘kanwariyas’ who began there tough journey on the first day of the auspicious Hindu month of ‘sawan’. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government here wanted to ensure that the month-long yatra in which pilgrims walk barefoot with pitchers of the holy Ganga water from Haridwar to Shiva temples in their native towns and villages, would not be disrupted in any form, an official said.

Use of DJ’s has been completely banned. No loud speakers or public address system would be allowed between 10 pm and 6 am. In the day time too, the pilgrims need permission to do so, he added. “Kanwar yatra is about to begin. Playing of vulgar film songs and DJs do not go with religious feelings. Also, it is improper to indulge in gambling after worshipping Goddess Lakshmi on Diwali,” he said.

The chief minister, who visiting the city, located near the India-Nepal border, said India and Nepal are “two bodies and one soul” and there is a need to impart skill development training to people residing on both the sides of the frontier.

The Adityanath government has asked all ‘kanwariyas’ to carry valid ID cards — voter cards, driving license or Aadhaar — so that their identity could be ascertained during routine checking. This has been done to prevent any terror threats. The official told IANS that the devotees have also been asked not to play any song that was offensive to other religions and communities.

At a skill development training programme organised by the Sashastra Seema Bal, Adityanath said, “We have to give a befitting reply to those who are trying to target India by making Nepal their centre. From this point of view, it becomes extremely important to give training to Nepalese people.”

The intelligence agencies have alerted the state police of a possible terror plan to disrupt the ‘yatra’. The police was put on high alert. Drones have been deployed to keep the Kanwar Yatra in focus. Prohibitory orders under section 144 have also been clamped in all districts and town on route of the Kanwar Yatra.

The pilgrims have also been cautioned against changing their routes as it could lead to communal tension. The Kanwar Yatra in the past have been subject of much disdain from the people given the incidents of violence, vandalism and traffic snarls, especially on the NH-24 connecting Ghaziabad to New Delhi.

Additional traffic constables have been deployed to ensure smooth traffic.

With inputs from agencies