Millions of Hindu pilgrims make Kanwar Yatra pilgrimage

VHO - Taking place from July 11-23 in northern India, the Kanwar Yatra festival attracts tens of millions of pilgrims on the roads of northern India every year.

Millions of Hindu devotees walked for days with buckets of holy water on their shoulders during the Kanwar Yatra pilgrimage in New Delhi, India on July 15.

This year's Kanwar Yatra festival attracts tens of millions of people to the streets of northern India and has become increasingly noisy and bustling in recent years.

The practice is considered a symbol of faith, devotion and the unbreakable bond between the devotee and Lord Shiva.

During the festival, water drawn from the holy Ganges River is carried to the pilgrims' locality. And the precious gift must be carefully guarded: spilling even a drop, or touching another person before reaching home, will invalidate the ritual.

During the journey, believers can rest, gather for sumptuous feasts, with music and dance to gain strength for the next journey.

As monsoon rains fell outside, Pankaj, an auto-rickshaw driver from New Delhi, gathered with people to celebrate before continuing his journey. He said this was the 21st time he had performed the ritual.

“I always get lost in the city of Bhole Baba (Lord Shiva),” he added.

In Delhi, millions of pilgrims will keep holy water in barrels, or vessels, hung from each end of the kanwar trees, from which the festival gets its name. Along the way, trucks with giant loudspeakers blast rhythmic music that makes the ground shake.

Aarti Kumar, 21, a former security guard, was returning home with friends. She said the group had walked 280 km (175 miles) and carried the sacred item with them.

"We are looking forward to offering holy water and completing the pilgrimage. We will feel excited when our efforts over many days will pay off," said Aarti Kumar.

"Devotion and sincere affection"

Pushkar Singh Dhami, Chief Minister of the Indian state of Uttarakhand, stressed that the state always maintains festival activities, with more than 45 million devotees coming to collect holy water from the Ganges River.

This year, the governments of Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh states, through which the Ganges flows, have banned devotees from carrying swords and tridents associated with Lord Shiva. Roadside restaurants have also been asked to display the names and details of their owners via QR codes.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has appealed to devotees to undertake the pilgrimage responsibly.

The Kanwar Yatra has its roots in many Hindu mythologies. According to Hinduism, the blessings of Lord Shiva can help resolve any major crisis in life.

It is believed that even if someone offers a cup of water with sincere devotion and love, he will receive the grace of God. That is why every year Hindus organize Kanwar Yatra to pay their respects to Lord Shiva.

During the journey, the Kanwariyas (pilgrims) have to ensure that the pots do not touch the ground under any circumstances as dust can contaminate the water.

Their devotion is further demonstrated when the devotees have to carry heavy water jugs on their shoulders and walk barefoot for kilometers on rough terrain, under the scorching heat of the late summer months.

Throughout the Kanwar Yatra, devotees can stay, eat and receive free medical assistance at Kanwar camps.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/van-hoa/hang-trieu-tin-do-hindu-hanh-huong-trong-le-hoi-kanwar-yatra-156007.html