Meerut: A helicopter roared in the smoke-laced sky. It hovered over the Kanwar pilgrims for a while. As they looked up, flower petals began to fall on their heads like raindrops. Out of ecstasy, the pilgrims chanted ‘Har…Har… Mahadev!’ Inside the helicopter, it was none but Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath who himself was showering flower petals on the devotees of Lord Shiva, a senior official said in Baghpat on Monday.
After that, his helicopter neared Siddhpeeth Parshurameshwar Puramahadev temple in Baghpat. He made four rounds of the temple complex. As part of the plan, district magistrate of Baghpat Rajkamal Yadav and superintendent of police Neeraj Jadaun stood in an open car and also showered flower petals on the pilgrims. According to a tweet from the office of the chief minister, Adityanath observed the arrangements for the smooth movement of the pilgrims. Many Kanwariyas wore the masks of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
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Huge tableaux containing the cut-outs of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati were seen on the roads which were decked up with lights to welcome the Shiva devotees. Kanwar Seva camps were also set up at different places in Meerut city. Most of the temples wore a bridal look. Earlier, the chief minister asked the officials to set up health posts at various places on the Kanwar Yatra route, but there should be any display of weapons. Devotional songs were also heard from different places across the city.