Northern India witnessed large religious gatherings over two consecutive days, with thousands of devotees taking ritual baths in the Ganga at Prayagraj, Varanasi and Haridwar and in the Saryu at Ayodhya on 10 July to mark Guru Purnima. Officials said the National Disaster Response Force and water-police units were positioned along swollen riverbanks, particularly at Varanasi’s Dashashwamedh Ghat, to manage crowds and swift currents. Activity intensified on 11 July as the Hindu month of Sawan began. Pilgrims lined up before dawn at major Shiva shrines including Varanasi’s Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Ujjain’s Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga and Ayodhya’s Nageshwar Nath Mandir for special aartis and jalabhishek rituals. State governments in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Delhi opened medical posts, diverted traffic and increased security around temples and riverfronts to handle the surge of worshippers. The annual Kanwar Yatra also started on Friday, with streams of Kanwariyas collecting Ganga water at Haridwar’s Har Ki Pauri and Prayagraj’s Sangam before setting off on foot to offer it at Shiva temples across the region. Authorities expect the pilgrimage, which runs through Shravan, to draw millions of participants and have advised travellers to plan for road closures on key highways.