UP announces helicopter flower showers for Kanwar Yatra in seven western districts

The Uttar Pradesh government has announced that it will conduct aerial flower showers for Kanwariyas — devotees of Lord Shiva — on major routes in seven western districts on August 9 and 10. The initiative is part of the State's arrangements for the annual Shravan Kanwar Yatra, which attracts millions of pilgrims each year.

According to the detailed schedule issued by the government, a helicopter will depart from Lucknow for Baghpat at around 8 a.m. on August 9. Flower petals will be showered on Kanwariyas in the Baghpat region between 10.30 a.m. and 11.15 a.m. The helicopter will then proceed to Saharanpur, where the floral welcome is scheduled from 11.45 a.m. to 12.45 p.m. The programme will continue in Muzaffarnagar from 1.30 p.m. to 2.15 p.m., followed by Meerut from 3.45 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. The total flying time on the first day is estimated at six hours and 10 minutes.

On August 10, the helicopter will take off from Meerut and shower flower petals on Kanwariyas in Ghaziabad from approximately 8.30 a.m. to 9.15 a.m. It will then move to Hapur, where the floral welcome is slated from 9.45 a.m. to 10.30 a.m., and then to Bulandshahr from 11.15 a.m. to noon. After the programme, the helicopter will depart from Bulandshahr for Lucknow at 12.30 p.m. The flying time on the second day will be three hours and 45 minutes, taking the total duration of the two-day aerial flower shower campaign to nine hours and 55 minutes.

The Kanwar Yatra is an annual pilgrimage observed during the Hindu month of Shravan. Devotees, known as Kanwariyas, travel on foot to collect holy water from the Ganga and other rivers and offer it at Shiva temples, particularly in Haridwar, Gaumukh, and Sultanganj. The event sees a massive movement of pilgrims across several states, and the Uttar Pradesh government has been making special arrangements to manage the crowds and ensure safety.

While the helicopter flower shower is seen as a gesture to enhance the spiritual experience of the devotees, authorities have also ramped up security, health, and sanitation measures along the yatra routes. The government said the initiative aims to conduct the yatra in a grand, safe, and orderly manner.

Local administrations in the seven districts have been directed to coordinate with the aviation department and ensure that the schedule is followed without disruption. No official confirmation has been provided on the estimated cost of the initiative or the source of the flower petals.