Putting behind sad memories of the June calamity, Kanwariyas flocked to temples despite heavy rains here on the first Monday of the month of 'Sawan' today to offer holy waters of the Ganga to Lord Shiva.
With Kanwariyas turning up in large numbers to the holy city to pay obeisance to Lord Shiva, life seems to have returned to the city markets wearing a desolate look since the natural disaster struck Uttarakhand last month killing hundreds of Char Dham devotees and leaving thousands missing.
Though the missing glow of the market areas in the city is evident again, the Kanwariyas (Shiva devotees) this year seem to constitute only 25 per cent of the total number of devotees who visit the city during the season annually, officials said.
Despite elaborate arrangements put in place by the district administration for devotees in view of the Kanwar fair, they are facing problems due to a number of places in the city still inundated.
All the schools in Haridwar have been closed for the day in view of large crowds of Kanwariyas likely to visit the city today, District Magistrate Nidhi Pandey said.
