Haridwar is facing a major waste-management challenge after the 2026 Kanwar Yatra drew a record estimated 4.8 crore devotees to the city. The pilgrimage, which concluded on August 11, left behind around 8,000 metric tonnes of waste, up from about 7,000 tonnes in 2025, according to the Haridwar Municipal Corporation.
Plastic sheets, discarded clothes, bottles and other waste were found across ghats, riverbanks, parking areas and pilgrimage routes, while bottles reportedly containing urine were found hanging in women’s changing rooms. The civic body has begun a week-long clean-up and recycling drive, while residents have called for a larger coordinated effort.
Record Footfall
The scale of this year’s pilgrimage has brought renewed attention to the environmental and civic pressure created by mass religious gatherings. Police estimates suggest around 4.8 crore Kanwariyas visited Haridwar to collect Ganga water from Har-ki-Pauri, surpassing the previous record of 4.5 crore in 2025. Municipal Commissioner Nandan Kumar said around 8,000 metric tonnes of waste was collected from the Kanwar Mela area between July 30 and August 12. “Most of it was found along riverbanks and in parking areas used by vehicles carrying dak kanwariyas,” Kumar told The Times of India, adding that large quantities of plastic sheets and discarded clothes were among the waste collected.
The problem was not limited to visible garbage. Videos circulated on social media reportedly showed bottles containing urine hanging inside women’s changing rooms, underscoring the strain on sanitation facilities during the pilgrimage. Municipal officials have since intensified cleaning operations across the city. They said discarded clothing is being separated for recycling through an initiative involving NGOs, while other waste is being segregated for processing at the waste-processing plant in Sarai village.
Measures Could Not Prevent Waste
The civic body had taken measures ahead of the yatra, including a drive against single-use plastic. Plastic sheets and polythene bags were seized from markets, while volunteers were deployed to discourage Kanwariyas from using plastic sheets. Despite these efforts, officials said large quantities of plastic were still found dumped along riverbanks and other parts of the city. The corporation has now launched a special cleanliness drive expected to continue for a week to clear remaining waste from the Kanwar areas and restore public spaces and the Ganga ghats.
The challenge is not new. After the 2025 Kanwar Yatra, Haridwar was left with around 7,000 metric tonnes of waste after approximately 4.5 crore pilgrims visited the city. Municipal Commissioner Nandan Kumar had then said more than 1,000 additional sanitation workers were deployed alongside regular staff and that drones were being used to identify areas where waste had accumulated. A special clean-up involving civic authorities, development agencies, social organisations and residents was also planned.
At the same time, officials say some aspects of this year’s pilgrimage were managed more effectively. Police reported less disruption to traffic despite the record turnout, attributing this to advance planning, designated Kanwar routes and the newly operational Delhi-Dehradun Expressway. However, the pilgrimage also saw 12 Kanwariyas die by drowning and six in road accidents, while nearly 400 people were rescued after being swept away in the Ganga.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Religious faith and environmental responsibility do not have to stand in opposition. Haridwar welcomes millions of pilgrims who come to the Ganga with deep spiritual reverence, but that reverence must also extend to the river, public spaces, sanitation workers and residents who live with the aftermath. The growing volume of waste from 7,000 tonnes in 2025 to around 8,000 tonnes this year suggests that temporary clean-up drives alone cannot be the long-term answer.
Authorities, organisers, businesses, pilgrims and local communities must work together on better toilets, waste segregation, reusable alternatives, stronger enforcement and sustained public awareness. At the same time, pilgrims should recognise that keeping a sacred place clean is not merely a civic duty but an act of respect. How can future Kanwar Yatras better balance religious devotion with responsibility towards Haridwar and the Ganga?
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हरिद्वार में कांवड़ यात्रा संपन्न होने के बाद जब सफाई शुरू हुई तो हर की पैड़ी पर बने चेंजिंग रूम में बहुत सारी पानी की बोतलों के अंदर पेशाब भरा मिला है। सफाईकर्मियों का आरोप है कि कांवड़िए ऐसा करके गए हैं। pic.twitter.com/VYSrEeiuzf
— Sachin Gupta (@Sachingupta) August 12, 2026
