Kanwar Yatra 2024

Kanwar Yatra is an auspicious pilgrimage observed by the devotees of Lord Shiva annually. The people who are a part of this yatra are called Kanvarias. This yatra takes place in the month of Shravan (Sawan) which falls in, July-August, in the Hindu calendar.

This holy yatra was taken by the saints and holy sages in the early days, which later got an addition of elderly people, who used to pilgrim every year, but now hundreds and thousands of people, from Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Punjab, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh, of young to old age, including a woman and sometimes children, have started participating in Yatra.

The story  behind Kanwar :

According to Puranas, during ocean churning, Samudra Manthan, which took place in the month of Shravan or Sawan, fourteen kinds of rubies came out of it, which were distributed among gods and demons, leaving the halahal (poison) behind, which was consumed by Lord Shiva, and stored in his throat, giving him the name of Neelkanth ( meaning blue throat).

It is believed that the king of demons Raavan, offered Shiva holy water of the Ganges, which lessens the effect of poison, and similarly, it is offered by the gods as well.

The purpose of this Yatra is to fetch the holy water of Ganga from Haridwar, Gangotri, and Gaumukh. This water is brought back to their respective villages and offered to the Shiva Ling in the local temples. The water is poured on the Linga and this is known as Abhishekam. People travel on foot to fetch water. While returning with water, the pots or the bowls should not touch the ground.

 Rituals of Kanwar Yatra

During the Kanwar Yatra, the devotees carry the ‘Kanwar’ on both their shoulders. ‘Kanwar’ is a small pole made from bamboo to which two colored earthen pots are tied on opposite ends. The Kanvarias fill the earthen pots with holy water for offering in Lord Shiva’s temple by balancing the Kanwars on their shoulders during this pilgrimage journey.

The Kanwar Yatra is a month-long ritual in which the Kanvarias wear saffron-colored clothes and walk barefoot to collect the holy water from the chosen pilgrimage destinations. The devotees then return to their hometown and perform the ‘abhisheka’ (holy anointment) of the Shivling at the local temple. It is considered to be an act of thanksgiving for all the fortunate things in their life. The only thing to take care is of that the earthen pots should not touch the ground at any point of the journey. Numerous makeshift stands are constructed across the journey, using which the Kanvarias can rest for a while.

The Kanvarias walk in groups during this holy yatra. While most of them travel the distance on foot, some devotees even use bicycles, scooters, motorcycles, jeeps, or, mini-tucks to cover this journey. All through the journey, these Lord Shiva devotees chant ‘Bol Bam’ and religious bhajans in praise of Lord Shiva.

Types of Kanwari Yatras

Baithi – A Kanwariya can place the Kanwar on the ground during the yatra

Dak – A Kanwariya has to run with the Kanwar

Khadi – A Kanwariya can either hang the Kanwar or can he place it on the floor. He must ask someone else to hold it when he is resting.

Jhoola – A Kanwariya can hang his Kanwar but cannot keep it on the ground.

2024 Yatra begins on July 22 and ends on August 03.