From Ghaziabad to Roorkee, what should be a solemn offering to Lord Shiva is being overshadowed by scenes of substance abuse, forcing questions about enforcement, cultural erosion, and the safety of India’s youth.
BY Navin Upadhyay
New Delhi, July 16, 2025 — What began as an annual devotional pilgrimage to Lord Shiva has spiraled into chaos in parts of North India, with shocking displays of substance abuse by minors derailing the sanctity of the Kanwar Yatra.
In Ghaziabad, several videos posted on social media earlier this week captured a disturbing scene. A group of saffron-clad Kanwariyas, some as young as 12 or 13, were filmed passing a chillum at a roadside camp. Instead of offering prayers, they chanted slogans while taking turns inhaling ganja smoke.
A local resident, who asked not to be named, expressed her dismay:
“These young boys are supposed to be on a spiritual pilgrimage, yet here they are, openly smoking ganja. It’s heartbreaking to see devotion get tangled with addiction.”
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The videos spread rapidly on X, triggering waves of backlash from viewers grappling with whether this was an isolated incident—or symptomatic of a larger trend.
Roorkee’s Sweet Trap: Opium-Laced Laddus
Not far behind the unfolding drama in Ghaziabad, a video from Roorkee surfaced showing teenage girls—some as young as 14 to 16 years old—allegedly consuming cannabis-infused sweets offered at a makeshift tea stall. Their giggles and stumbled steps sparked concern, prompting nearby pilgrims to step in.
One passerby recounted:
“We found them dazed next to the stall. When asked, they couldn’t even chant the mantra properly… This is disgraceful, not devotion.”
A Growing Pattern, Not an Anomaly
These incidents echo a worrying trend first documented in 2023, when similar substance use among Kanwariyas—though less overt—was reported from the pilgrimage routes.
The year 2025, however, marks a disturbing escalation:
- Open ganja use via traditional chillums among underaged participants, caught on camera.
- Cannabis-laced edibles found in female pilgrim groups.
- Aggressive behavior, vandalism, and traffic blockades, often linked to intoxicated pilgrims.
News reports from ABP Live earlier this week highlighted the issue:
“What was once a humble act of faith has acquired an aura of toughness … substance abuse entrenches this shift.”
Future Hindutava warriors of BJP IT cell…Bakri, Minnity Sinha & Co😂 pic.twitter.com/N87Dysqso0
— SDutta (@KhelaHobePart2) July 15, 2025
⚖️ Law and Order: Cops Feeling the Heat
A senior Ghaziabad police official—speaking under the condition of anonymity—confessed the enormity of the challenge:
“We’ve deployed extra patrols and set up DUI checkpoints; yet with millions walking, we can’t inspect every group. When they’re chanting and parading, it’s tough to differentiate devotion from disorder.”
Elsewhere, in Roorkee and Haridwar, police teams pulled aside several pilgrim groups suspected of carrying contraband. In some camps, children were found incoherent, unable to recite basic prayers.
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Religious leaders and local clergy have voiced alarm. Swami Anand of Haridwar declared:
“Kanwar’s legacy is discipline, penance, and spiritual rigor. Young participants must be reminded that true sacrifice doesn’t come from intoxication—it comes from devotion.”
Local anti-drug groups like Youth Against Substance Use have ramped up efforts, appealing to parents and youth to stay vigilant. Their coordinator, Anil Sharma, pointed out:
“This isn’t just about one yatra. It mirrors a wider societal failure—when sacred spaces and minors become playgrounds for drug peddlers, faith loses its meaning.”
Kanwar yatris chal chal ke thak gaye honge. Isiliye dawai le rahe hai shayad…😜😄 pic.twitter.com/p296P1IVM7
— Manish RJ (@mrjethwani_) July 14, 2025
The figures speak for themselves: more than 20 million pilgrims converge on the Kanwar route annually. That vast scale provides anonymity—and a cover—for illegal activities to flourish. Tea stalls, rest stops, and unregulated camps often turn into marketplaces for all kinds of contraband.
Beauty of Sanatan dharma 🚩🔥
During the Kanwar Yatra, even children are seen openly consuming substances like cannabis, opium etc. pic.twitter.com/v0lqe60hYn
— Manish RJ (@mrjethwani_) July 15, 2025
Recent parallels in Maharashtra—where juvenile drug arrests led to plans for lowering juvenile age—underscore a national challenge: when children absorb peer pressure and market forces along religious processions.
To restore the sanctity of the Kanwar Yatra and protect the youth, several measures are now being considered. Authorities are planning heightened police presence, including satellite-controlled mobile patrols and random bag checks, especially during key hours along major routes. At the same time, awareness campaigns involving schools and NGOs are being proposed to educate not only the young pilgrims but also their parents and guardians about the dangers of substance use during religious pilgrimages.
Another crucial step is ensuring tighter regulation of camps along the yatra route. Only officially sanctioned camps would be permitted to operate, with mandatory audits to ensure they remain drug-free. Religious leaders, too, are being urged to play a proactive role. Faith-based organizations may deploy youth volunteers at camps to monitor behavior, educate fellow pilgrims, and prevent minors from falling into the wrong crowd.
The question now echoes across the country: will the Kanwar Yatra regain its spiritual sanctity, or will substance abuse derail its devotional spirit?
As one concerned devotee put it, “This yatra should cleanse our souls—not stoke addiction in children.”
With lives—both devout and vulnerable—at stake, the pilgrimage’s future depends on urgent action, community resolve, and a renewed commitment to the purity of faith.
