Ganga Canal Closure in Haridwar Triggers Hunt for Gold, Silver and Coins on Exposed Riverbed

Haridwar's annual Ganga canal closure has triggered an unusual hunt for coins, gold and silver jewellery, as thousands of people search the exposed riverbed for valuables left behind by devotees.

The Upper Ganga Canal was closed for annual maintenance, desilting and repairs on October 20. The shutdown has exposed sections of the riverbed around Har Ki Pauri and other prominent ghats, giving people an opportunity to recover items that would otherwise remain underwater.

Why People Are Searching the Dry Ganga Riverbed

Devotees routinely offer coins and other items to the Ganga during prayers and religious rituals. When the water level drops, people enter the exposed stretches to search among the sand, stones and debris.

Searchers use their hands and other basic methods to recover coins and metal objects. While some find copper, brass and other metals, others report finding silver jewellery and, occasionally, gold ornaments. Valuable finds are not guaranteed, and earnings depend on luck and the hours spent searching.

Families Wait All Year for the Opportunity

For some people, the annual canal closure offers more than a chance to find valuables. It provides a seasonal source of income.

Several families reportedly spend hours searching the riverbed, hoping to collect enough coins and metal items to sell and cover household expenses. Some remain at the ghats for up to eight hours a day during the closure period.

The work is physically demanding, and daily earnings can vary considerably depending on what they find.

Why the Ganga Canal Has Been Closed

The Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Department has temporarily halted the flow of the Upper Ganga Canal for its annual maintenance programme. The work includes desilting, repairs to damaged sections and improvements to ghats ahead of the upcoming Kumbh preparations.

The canal is scheduled to reopen in early November, with water expected to return around November 7-8. The closure is temporary and does not mean the Ganga has dried up permanently.

Har Ki Pauri Presents an Unusual Sight

Har Ki Pauri, one of Haridwar's best-known pilgrimage sites, usually draws large crowds for ritual bathing and prayers. With water levels sharply reduced during the maintenance period, the exposed riverbed has changed the scene at the ghats.

While many devotees have been disappointed by the reduced water flow, others have turned the temporary conditions into an opportunity to search for coins and valuables.

The hunt is expected to continue until the canal reopens and the water returns to the affected stretches.