This year, the month of Sawan begins on Monday, July 22. The Kanwar Yatra also starts on the same date. Lord Shiva is worshipped during Sawan, which is considered Shiva’s favourite month. It is believed that offering water to Lord Shiva during this month pleases him. Devotees of Shiva undertake the Kanwar Yatra to fulfil their wishes and seek the blessings of the Lord. There are numerous stories about the origins of the Kanwar Yatra, including those of Shravan Kumar, Lord Ram, Parshuram, and Ravana. To understand the Kanwar Yatra in detail, we turn to Astrologer Dr Ganesh Mishra from Central Sanskrit University, Puri. He provides insights into the following aspects: What is the Kanwar Yatra? How many types of Kanwar Yatra are there? What preparations should be made for the Kanwar Yatra? He answered all these questions and more.
Water from holy rivers like the Ganga and Yamuna is poured on the Shivling as part of the worship of Lord Shiva. The journey from home with a Kanwar and the journey from filling water from the river to the Abhishek of Shivling is called Kanwar Yatra.
There are 4 types of Kanwar Yatra. In the typical Kanwar Yatra, devotees can rest on the way while walking to the destination. In Dak Kanwar Yatra, devotees have to walk continuously till they collect water from the river and perform the Abhishek of Lord Shiva. Once they start the journey, they finish it only after performing Jalabhishek. In Dandi Kanwar, the devotee has to travel by bowing down while chanting the slogan of Bam Bam Bhole. In Standing Kanwar, several devotees carry one Kanwar by supporting each other.
Materials required for Kanwar Yatra:
1. Wooden Kanwar
Picture of Lord Shiva, makeup material to decorate the Kanwar
Any vessel or container to fill Ganga water or river water
Saffron clothes for the devotee
Some essentials like medicines and bandages
Rules of Kanwar Yatra:
1. During the Kanwar Yatra, you should be pure in thoughts, actions and words. You should do Kanwar Yatra only if you have reverence for it in your mind, otherwise it will be futile.
During this time, one should not consume alcohol, betel, gutkha, tobacco, cigarettes..
In the Kanwar Yatra, along with your faith and devotion, your determination of mind is also tested. In this, you have only one goal, to get the blessings of Lord Bholenath. You should not deviate from this goal.
Once you lift the Kanwar, you cannot place it on the ground. When you get tired, you can place it on a tree or a stand.
In Kanwar Yatra, the journey is done barefoot.
Perform the Kanwar Yatra according to your physical capacity. If you are performing the Kanwar Yatra for the first time, you can avoid travelling a longer distance. Sick or unhealthy people should avoid this journey.