Shravan month’s kanvar Yatra is starting today (from July 28, 2018). Hindu Shravan month is also starting from July 28, 2018. Lord Shiva’s devotees are reaching Haridwar, Gaumukh and Gangotri in Uttrakhand for Kanvar Yatra from many places in India. Hindu Shravan month will be Shivmayi during Kanvar yatra. Shiva’s devotees will dance and enjoy in Kanwar yatra. From Gangotri to Rajasthan various routes are diverted to give a safe passage to Lord Shiva’s devotees. People will install roadside stalls for the devotees who will carry the Kanwar.
Millions of Shiva’s devotees will gather the sacred water from the Ganga River and carry it across hundreds of miles. The holy water is stored in differently shaped pitchers and carried by the Shiva’s devotees on their shoulders on a small pole made from bamboo, known as “Kanwar”. Hence, these Shiv’s devotees are known as “Kanwars” or “Kanwariyas ” and the entire pilgrimage is referred as “Kanwar Yatra”. Lord Shiva’s Shravan month’s kanvar yatra becomes a joyful month of the year.
There is a history behind this Kanvar yatra. According to Shiv Puran, when Samundra Manthan was started in Hindu Shravan month, the Samundra led to the emergence of poison before the Amrit came out. Due to the heat of poison, the entire world began to burn. It was then Lord Shiva who accepted to drink the poison. Lord Shiva’s throat turned blue for which he was given the name “Neelkanth”. But he felt a burning sensation in his throat. To reduce the impact of the poison, Gods and Devas poured Ganga Water into Lord Shiva’s throat. Millions of people carry Ganga Jal in their Kanvar and devote this Ganga Jal on Lord Shiva’s Shivlinga on the day of Mahashivratri.
Lord Shiva is the God of Gods. Hindu Puran says that if Lord Shiva is happy on his devotees, devotees of Lord Shiva get the entire world’s happiness. Hindu spirituality says that Shravan month is favourite month of Lord Shiva. So Lord Shiva gives his blessings to his devotees as his devotees want to get blessed. Thus, the devotees wait for the Shravan month’s kanvar Yatra eagerly throughout the year.
