With the onset of the Hindu month of Shravan (starts in mid-July) commences the sacred pilgrimage journey, Kanwar Yatra in Uttarakhand and other parts of India as well. During this yatra, millions of devotees of Lord Shiva known as 'Kanwariya' from all states and cities of India make a journey to Haridwar, Gangotri, and Gaumukh in the state of Uttarakhand while chanting Bol Bam to gather sacred water from the River Ganga and carry it across hundreds of miles to offer it at their local or popular Shiva temples such as Pura Mahadeva and Augharnath temple in Meerut, and Kashi Vishwanath, Baidyanath, and Deoghar in Jharkhand. During the Kanwar Yatra that starts in the monsoon months, the devotees of Lord Shiva even observe a fast on Mondays.
The devotees head to Haridwar, Gangotri, and Gaumukh in Uttarakhand while carrying a Kanwar on their shoulders. In these sacred places, the devotees take holy bath in the Ganga River. The water when carried back to their hometowns is used for bathing the Shivalingam on the Amavasya (New Moon) day in Shravan month or on the Maha Shivratri day. Large camps and gatherings can be seen in Haridwar and Gangotri during the Kanwar Yatra which is a month-long sacred journey. In fact, the gathering on the ghats of Ganga in Haridwar has been recorded as one of the biggest human gatherings in India.
Highlights of Kanwar Yatra
- During the Kanwar Yatra, the devotees of Lord Shiva carry the 'Kanwar' on both of their shoulders.
- The Yatra happens from mid-July to August. Thus, it is almost a month pilgrim journey in which the devotees wear saffron colored clothes and walk barefoot from the chosen destination to collect the holy water of Ganges in Haridwar, Gangotri or Gaumukh.
- Numbers of makeshift accommodations are constructed across the journey where the Kanwarias can take rest for a while.
- Some devotees travel the distance on foot while others on their personal vehicle.
- Throughout the journey, the Kanwarias chant the slogan of 'Bol Bam' along with the religious bhajans of Lord Shiva.
- There are numbers of NGOs who offer free services like food, water, tea, or medical help to Kanwarias.
