The holy month of Sawan is here and so is the month-long celebration of Lord Shiva, the protector, the destroyer and the all-pervasive one. He is one of the Trimurti, the three deities with supreme divine powers, along with Brahma and Vishnu.
Lakhs of people go on the Kanwar Pilgrimage every year to offer Lord Shiva, the Holy water and ask for his blessings. People keep fasts and also worship Goddess Parvati seeking their protection and hoping to get their desires fulfilled.
Kanwar Yatra: How Did it Start ?
As per the popular legend, Lord Shiva had consumed the Halahal (poison) that came out of the ocean during Samudra Manthan (churning of the ocean). Lord Shiva saved the world by consuming the venom. Goddess Parvati quickly held his throat to stop the poison from moving further in his body. This turned his throat blue and Lord Shiva came to be known as Neelkantha.
Lord Shiva’s body started to burn due to poison and so all the Gods and Goddess started offering water to him. This is where the idea of offering water to Shiva and Kanwar Yatra began.
As Lord Shiva did that to save the world, his devotees perform Puja as rendition to the Lord who always protects his followers from all dangers, diseases and bestows good health and fortune.
Kanwar Yatra is extremely popular in the northern states of India. Lakhs of devotees go on the pilgrimage every year. There is festivity all around. People go the Yatra in huge groups, dancing and singing Shiva bhajans.
There are countless resting and food points created along the route of Kanwar Yatra. People provide free food, water, shelter and even entertainment to the tired pilgrims with the hope of gaining divine blessings themselves.
Traffic Police of different states prepare for the Kanwar Yatra in advance. Special measures are taken to make sure that the roads are safe and there’s no nuisance during the Yatra.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)