Haridwar, July 19 -- The holy town of Haridwar is witnessing a huge influx of Kanwariyas as the Dak Kanwar phase of the ongoing Shravan Kanwar Mela began on Friday. According to figures accessed from the Mela Control Room, the total footfall of Kanwariyas-devotees of Lord Shiva-has crossed 14 million since the pilgrimage began on June 11. Officials say that the start of the Dak Kanwar phase, during which pilgrims arrive in vehicles to collect the sacred Ganga Jal, has led to a sharp spike in the influx. Devotees in saffron attire are thronging the town in large numbers, with major entry points like Chidiyapur-Shyampur on the Najibabad-Haridwar highway and Narsain, Roorkee-Laksar on the Delhi-Haridwar highway witnessing heavy movement throughout the day. Pilgrims are reaching the banks of the Ganga on foot as well as via a wide range of vehicles-mini-trucks, trucks, and specially modified open vehicles-all carrying elaborately decorated Kanwars, stereo systems, and cans to store Ganga water. Dak Kanwariyas are known for setting strict timeframes-10, 14, 24, or even 36 hours-to complete their round trip. The word "Dak" (meaning "postal") reflects their urgency to collect and deliver the Ganga Jal back home within a fixed duration, much like a time-bound delivery. This phase of the yatra has become increasingly popular post-pandemic, with a visible rise in vehicular pilgrimages. Along the Kanwar routes, hundreds of free rest camps have sprung up, run by local committees and volunteers. These rest stops provide meals, water, and shelter to the pilgrims. One such example is the Hakimpur Tura Kanwar Seva Samiti, which has been organising a Kanwar camp on Bhagwanpur-Imli road since 2005. "We are serving Kanwariyas from morning till late night. It's spiritually fulfilling, and the number of devotees has clearly surged post-Covid," said Kislay Saini, the general secretary of the Seva Samiti. Religious scholars attribute the rise in numbers to the end of the 'Panchak' period, considered inauspicious for starting the Kanwar Yatra. As per tradition, devotees refrain from starting the pilgrimage during this phase, which this year lasted from July 13 (6:53 am) to July 18 (3:39 am)....