Have you heard about the Kanwar Yatra? It’s a very unique
kind of tradition that Shiv devotees follow during the month of Shravan every
year. Devotees pay an annual pilgrimage to the holy places of Haridwar, Gaumukh
and Gangotri in Uttarakhand, and Sultanganj in Bihar to fetch the holy water of
River Ganga. This water is then offered at their local Shiv temples.
The devotees who perform this ritual are known as
‘Kanwariyas’. They are clad in saffron clothes and travel a distance of around
100 kilometers barefooted! These include hundreds of thousands of devotees from
Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Bihar, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh,
Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. They carry a ‘Kanwar’ on their shoulders, which is
a bamboo pole with two covered water pots fastened on either side. While most
pilgrims are men, a few women and children are also seen participating in this
Yatra. During their journey, these devotees chant “Bol Bam, Bam Bam” or “Har
Har Mahadev” together.
What is the story
behind the Kanwar Yatra?
According to the Hindu mythology, during the churning of the
ocean, Lord Shiva drank all the poison that had come out to save the world from
getting destructed. He held all the poison in his neck, which is why his neck
turned blue and thus the name ‘Neelkanth’ given to him. It is believed that the
king Raavan offered Lord Shiva the holy water of River Ganga to lessen the
effect of the poison. It is since then that devotees have been offering
Gangajal on Shivlings in Shiv temples. This is why during this holy month,
devotees walk barefoot to bring Gangajal and offer it to Lord Shiva as a gesture
of thanksgiving.
What are the benefits
of this Yatra?
First and foremost, devotees believe that bringing Gangajal
from the holy river and offering it to Lord Shiva makes him happy, due to which
he fulfills all their wishes and blesses them profoundly. Moreover, it is
believed that this Yatra helps in the progression and development of our
personality and individuality. It also increases our willpower and confidence.
We are able to recognize our strengths, caliber and potentiality through this
Yatra.
What are the
limitations for the Kanwariyas?
During this procession, the Kanwariyas are bound by certain
rules that are a must to be followed. It isn’t easy to walk 100 kilometers
barefoot; moreover these restrictions make the pilgrimage even more difficult.
But, devotees who trust Lord Shiva have enough confidence and strength to carry
out this procession happily.
·
Kanwariyas need to be bathed before starting the
procession but, they are not allowed usage of any kind of oil, soap, comb or
any kind of beautifying products during the pilgrimage.
·
Kanwariyas are not allowed to consume any kind
of non-vegetarian food, alcohol, tobacco and any other toxins during the period
of procession.
·
Kanwariyas are allowed to sit only on bare
ground and are not allowed to use any kind of vehicle too. Moreover, they are
not permitted to touch any kind of leather items too.
This procession seems to be a must watch! If you are a Shiv
devotee, you may also participate in this Yatra between 20th July and
25th August this year. Other than the Shravan month, this ritual is
observed in high numbers during Basant Panchmi and Maha Shivratri too.
Approximately 2 crore devotees perform this holy journey every year!
However, if you are not going anywhere and wish to perform rituals
during this holy month in your own city (Bangalore), you can get in touch with MakeMyPuja to hire the most professional
and experienced Pandits to assist you.
No comments:
Post a Comment