What is Kanwar Yatra?

About Kanwar Yatra:

• It is an annual Hindu pilgrimageobserved every year by Lord Shiva devotees, known as Kanvarias or Bhole.
• It usually starts in the month of July or August, commonly known as the month of Sawan, according to the Hindu calendar. 
• What happens at Kanwar Yatra? 
  • The yatra derives its name from the word ‘kanwar’, meaning a bamboo pole to which containers of holy water are tied at opposite ends.
  • The devotees travel to pilgrimage placeslike Haridwar, Gaumukh, Gangotri in Uttarakhand, Sultanganj in Bihar, Prayagraj, Ayodhya, and Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, and return by carrying Ganga water in kanwars to seek the blessings of Shiva.
  • The water is offered to Shiva temples, including the 12 Jyotirlingas across India and other shrines like the Pura Mahadev Mandir and Augharnath in Uttar Pradesh, the famous Kashi Vishwanath temple, and the Baba Baidyanath Temple in Deoghar, Jharkhand. The ritual is known as Jal Abhishek.
  • Devotees often carry the holy water to offer at temples in their towns and villages.
  • Many pilgrims believe that once the pot is filled with holy water, it should not touch the ground.
  • While carrying the water, devotees walk barefoot; some complete the pilgrimage by lying flat on the ground.
  • They are clad in saffron clothingwhile undertaking the journey. 
  • Many observe fasts during the pilgrimage, and the consumption of food, water, and salt is restricted.