Flood of devotees in Haridwar on Gandhi Jayanti, thousands at Har Ki Pauri; Ganga's flow swift, crowds in markets

On Friday, the crowd of devotees and tourists in Haridwar suddenly increased due to the Gandhi Jayanti holiday and the long weekend. From early morning, a large number of people arrived at Har Ki Pauri and the nearby ghats for a dip in the Ganga. Videos and live visuals emerging on social media show thousands of people present at the ghats.

Compared to October 1, the crowd at Har Ki Pauri on Friday morning appeared significantly larger. A video that surfaced around 7:30 AM showed a large number of devotees taking a dip in the Ganga around the ghats and bridge. Shortly after, another video claimed that there was a shortage of space at the ghats.

Live darshan and vlog videos that appeared before noon also showed considerable hustle and bustle in the markets around Har Ki Pauri. After the sun came out, the movement of devotees seemed to increase.

Crowd from Har Ki Pauri to the Market

Today, the highest pressure is visible at Har Ki Pauri and the major ghats nearby. There has also been an increase in the movement of devotees towards the New Ghat and Clock Tower area. With the evening Ganga Aarti approaching, devotees are already arriving at the ghats and reserving spots for good views. Due to the long weekend in Haridwar, there is also a possibility of increased pressure on traffic management. The administration and police have made additional arrangements for traffic management in view of the increasing movement in Rishikesh and tourist areas.

Cloudy Morning, Bright Sun Later

On Friday morning, the weather was slightly cloudy. Some visuals showed devotees with umbrellas and rain protection gear. After around 11 AM, the sun came out, making the weather at the ghats clear and bright. With the sun out, the movement of people at the ghats and markets continued steadily.

Should You Carry Cash on October 2? Local Traders' Symbolic Protest in Haridwar

Today, there is also an important update regarding UPI payments in Haridwar. The Haridwar Distributor Organization had already announced a symbolic movement against MDR on October 2. Traders associated with the organization decided not to accept UPI, Paytm, or any online payments and to only accept cash payments. The organization appealed to other traders to join this protest.

However, it is important to note that it would not be accurate to say that UPI is shut down at all shops across Haridwar. Different decisions have emerged among business organizations regarding the 'No UPI Day' on October 2 at the national level, and some organizations have withdrawn their protest programs.

In this context, it may be practically wise for tourists visiting Haridwar to carry some cash, especially while shopping in local markets.

Crowd May Increase for Evening Aarti

After a day of continuous movement of devotees, it is likely that the crowd in the Har Ki Pauri area will increase during the evening Ganga Aarti. According to the Haridwar Municipal Corporation, the Ganga Aarti at the ghats attracts devotees and tourists every morning and evening.