UP Districts Announce Extended School Holidays and Tighten Temple Security for First Sawan Monday
Uttar Pradesh is witnessing massive religious fervor as millions of devotees prepare to observe the holy month of Shravan (Sawan). With thousands of Shiva devotees thronging major temples to perform traditional Jalabhishek on the very first Monday of Sawan, state authorities have stepped up security measures to unprecedented levels. Alongside crowd management and heavy police deployment, district administrations have announced extended school holidays for educational institutions up to grade 12 in multiple districts to ensure smooth traffic management during the ongoing Kanwar Yatra.
Extended School Closures in Meerut and Muzaffarnagar
The district administrations of Meerut and Muzaffarnagar have officially issued orders for prolonged holidays across all state-board, private schools, and colleges up to class 12, keeping student safety and massive pilgrim movement in mind. In Muzaffarnagar, District Magistrate Umesh Mishra has directed the complete closure of all educational institutions from August 3 to August 10. Similarly, in Meerut, the administration has declared a 10-day holiday, keeping schools shut until August 12. These precautions are critical as the Kanwar Yatra, which commenced on July 30, sees a massive surge of pilgrims carrying holy Ganga water from Haridwar ahead of Shivratri on August 11, with the sacred month concluding on August 28.
Staggered Holidays Across Bareilly, Etah, and Kasganj
Apart from Meerut and Muzaffarnagar, several other districts in Uttar Pradesh have implemented customized holiday schedules for schools during the Sawan period. In Etah, Basic Education Officer Anupam Awasthi announced that all council schools will observe a holiday every Monday throughout Shravan, though teachers are required to report to school to manage administrative and government programs. Meanwhile, the District Magistrate of Kasganj has issued strict directives keeping schools closed every Saturday and Monday, and Bareilly has adopted a similar pattern of Monday closures to manage traffic congestion caused by the heavy influx of Kanwar pilgrims on national and state highways.
High-Security Arrangements at Major Shiva Temples
In addition to academic closures, law enforcement agencies have tightened security around prominent Shiva temples across western Uttar Pradesh. Saharanpur Range Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Abhishek Singh, confirmed that foolproof security arrangements have been established, featuring specialized anti-Romeo squads deployed at major shrines to ensure the safety and security of women devotees. Authorities have implemented separate queues, heavy barricading to regulate massive footfall, and drone surveillance. With thousands of saffron-clad pilgrims marching along designated Kanwar routes, the administration is leaving no stone unturned in maintaining law, order, and public safety throughout the festive season.
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