Kanwar Yatra 2022: Here's everything you need to know
Things you need to know about Kanwar Yatra
krishna murthy
The holy expedition called Kanwar Yatra commences on the first day of Sawan (Shravan).
It culminates on the Chaturdashi Tithi (the fourteenth day during the waning phase of the Lunar cycle)
During the Yatra, the Kanwariyas, or pilgrims, visit places like Haridwar, Gaumukh and Gangotri in Uttarakhand and Sultanganj in Bihar to collect the holy water of River Ganga.
They then carry it across several kilometres on foot to dispense as offerings in local Shiva temples or specified shrines like Kashi Vishwanath in Varanasi and Baba Baidyanath in Deoghar.
Devotees chant slogans in praise of Lord Shiv and sing bhajans and kirtans while taking part in the yatra.
In the 1990s, the Yatra became much more popular, attracting devotees even from outside India.
The Kanwar Yatra is attended by devotees in remembrance of Samudra Manthan, in which Lord Shiva drank poison to attain the elixir of life, commonly called ‘Amrit’ in Hindu mythology.
While most of the people cover this yatra on foot, some opt for personal vehicles in case they are not able to walk long distances.
Many NGOs also come forward to assist the kanwars in their pilgrimage at various points along the way to the destination, providing makeshift accommodation, food, water and tea.