The annual Kanwar Yatra, a revered Hindu pilgrimage during which devotees carry Ganga water to different Shiva temples, concluded on July 16.
Despite one unfortunate incident in Meerut, where five Kanwariyas were electrocuted to death on July 15, the rest of the pilgrimage proceeded smoothly, marked by pomp and dedication.
Kanwar Yatra is a sacred journey organized in the Hindu calendar month of Shravan (Saavan) and this year, it commenced on July 3. Traditionally, devotees undertook the yatra barefoot, carrying pitchers of water to Shiva temples. However, in modern times, the pilgrimage is mostly facilitated using trucks and other vehicles.
During the Yatra, devotees carry holy water in pitchers resting on their shoulders, skillfully balanced on decorated slings called Kanwars.
This consecrated water is offered by pilgrims to worship the Shiva lingas, including the 12 Jyotirlingas such as the Pura Mahadeva and the Augharnath temple in Meerut, Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi, and Baidyanath temple in Deoghar, Jharkhand.
Similar to the Kanwar Yatra, South India's Tamil Nadu also celebrates a tradition known as the Kavadi festival, during which Lord Muruga is worshipped.
According to Hindu mythology and the tales from the Puranas, the Samudra Manthan (churning of the ocean) took place in the month of Shravan. During this cosmic event, Devas (celestial beings) and Asuras (demons) churned the ocean to obtain the Amrit (nectar of immortality). However, instead of the elixir, Halahala, a deadly poison capable of destroying the universe, emerged from the depths.
In an act of selflessness and to safeguard the world, Lord Shiva drank the poison. But, to prevent the poison from harming him further, he held it in his throat, which turned his neck blue. This earned him the name Neelkantha, meaning "the one with the blue throat."
To mitigate the effects of the poison, Lord Shiva wore a crescent on his head, and the Devas poured water from the holy river Ganges on him. This ritual of offering holy water to Lord Shiva originated during the Shravan month.
Devotees believe that bathing Lord Shiva with holy water from the river Ganga bestows blessings upon them, which is why Kanwariyas in large numbers visit revered Shiva shrines like Baba Baidyanath Dham in Deoghar and Kashi Vishwanath temple in the north.