Haridwar pilgrims hunt for treasure in drained canal bed

HARIDWAR — Following the annual 18-day closure of the Gangnahr canal, thousands of residents and pilgrims have descended into the waterway's exposed bed in search of valuables, with several ghats in the northern Indian city witnessing intensive treasure-hunting activity. The dried canal has become a temporary opportunity for fortune-seekers, who spend up to eight hours scouring the mud and debris for coins, gold, silver and other metal objects deposited over the year by visitors to the sacred sites.

Har Ki Pauri, one of Haridwar's most significant ghats dedicated to the Ganges River, has seen particularly heavy traffic as people work systematically through the canal bed. Those engaged in the search report occasional successes, with lucky finds including precious jewellery alongside more common coins and metal objects.

The annual canal closure, a routine maintenance procedure, creates a window of opportunity that has become an anticipated event for locals seeking to recover valuables. While such discoveries remain unpredictable, the practice reflects the steady stream of devotional offerings made throughout the year at Haridwar's revered ghats, where pilgrims traditionally cast items into the water as part of their spiritual visits.