Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday inspected the preparations for the annual Kartik Purnima Fair in Garhmukteshwar in the Hapur district and the Tigri Fair in Amroha and issued necessary instructions to all concerned departments.
In a review meeting after conducting an aerial survey of the fair site, the chief minister stated that approximately 40 to 45 lakh devotees arrive on the banks of the Ganga to bathe and offer lamps on this auspicious occasion, and therefore, all arrangements should be timely and coordinated to ensure no one is inconvenienced. He directed that traffic, security, cleanliness, health, drinking water, and lighting be given top priority. It should be noted that this year’s fair, scheduled to run from October 30 to November 5, is planned to be organized as a “mini Kumbh.”
Yogi Adityanath stated that safety of devotees is paramount. Deployment of the NDRF and SDRF, CCTV and drone surveillance, rescue boats, and helpline centers should be ensured at the Ganga ghats. The fair should be linked to the message of cleanliness and environmental protection, and a complete ban on single-use plastic should be implemented. The chief minister directed that adequate checkerboard plates be installed at the ghats, the feasibility of pontoon bridges be tested, and dredging work in erosion areas be completed expeditiously by the Irrigation Department.
He said during the fair, the NDRF/SDRF and flood units should remain on constant vigil in deep-water areas and necessary barricades should be erected. Counseling sessions should be held to encourage disciplined behavior among devotees. CCTV, public address systems, and the Integrated Control Center should be continuously monitored throughout the fair area. Special attention should be paid to vehicle security, broadcasting, and cleanliness at parking lots.
The chief minister directed that a zero liquid discharge system be implemented in temporary toilets and any leakage should be prevented. Crowd regulation, changing rooms, clean toilets, a ban on single-use plastic, and garbage and bottle collection systems should be ensured at the ghats. He directed the Electricity Department to ensure uninterrupted power supply and electrical safety at all sites.
He said the fair should be attractively decorated and hoardings be put up to promote the government’s public welfare schemes. Adequate arrangements for fire safety systems, temporary hospitals, anti-snake venom, and anti-rabies vaccines should be ensured. Police and NDRF patrolling should be increased during the bathing season, and traffic diversion plans should be effectively implemented within a 20-25 kilometer radius to avoid any traffic jams.
CM Yogi directed officials not to charge any additional fees from pilgrims and to pay special attention to the provision of animal fodder, food, and drinking water. Proper arrangements should be made for the food and drinks of the volunteers on duty, and that all departments should work in coordination so that this historic fair in Garhmukteshwar not only becomes a center of faith but also sets an ideal example of order, cleanliness, and discipline.
The chief minister said this event in Garhmukteshwar is a living symbol of Uttar Pradesh’s faith, spirituality, and cultural heritage. The government’s goal is to conduct this fair with devotion, discipline, and cleanliness, so that every visitor returns from this holy pilgrimage with peace and blessings.
Earlier, the chief minister performed Ganga puja at the fair area and inspected the Sadar Bazaar established in the Garh fair area. He also visited the ‘Modha’ store being constructed in Garh Mukteshwar and praised the quality of the ‘Modha’.
Garhmukteshwar is known to have a very ancient religious and mythological significance. It is believed that after the Mahabharata war, Yudhishthira, Arjuna, and Lord Krishna bathed in the Ganga here to seek peace for the souls of their ancestors. This is the place where Lord Parashurama established Mukteshwar Mahadev. The Skanda Purana and the Mahabharata mention Garhmukteshwar as a pilgrimage site where bathing in the Ganges and offering prayers to the departed souls leads to salvation.
The Kartik Purnima fair here is a symbol not only of religious faith but also of cultural tradition and folk life. Every year, millions of devotees visit Brijghat and Mukteshwar Ghat to bathe, offer lamps, and offer prayers to their ancestors.