Yatras or pilgrimages have great significance in Hindu Dharma. Besides regular pilgrimages to Hindu holy shrines, Hindus undertake annual Yatras dedicated to a Bhagwan of their choice. According to the Hindu calendar, these pilgrimages are undertaken at a particular time every year.

What is Kanwar Yatra?

The Kanwar Yatra is an annual pilgrimage held in the month of Shravan or Saavan, particularly in North Bharat. Devotees of Bhagwan Shiva, known as Kanwariya, fetch the holy Ganga water for Abhishek. The Gangajal is carried in pitchers to pilgrimage sites in Uttarakhand’s Haridwar, Gaumukh, and Gangotri and Bihar’s Sultanganj. The Kanwariyas walk barefoot, carrying the pitchers on their shoulders using a bamboo pole (Kanwar, from which the devotees derive their name).

While the other Kanwar yatras are held only in Shravan, the Sultanganj to Devghar yatra in Bihar is undertaken throughout the year. Neelkanth Mahadev temple in Rishikesh, Pura Mahadev and Augharnath temples in Meerut, Kashi Vishwanath, Baidyanath, and Deoghar are some of the pilgrimage centres visited by the Kanwariyas.

The largest and most significant gathering of Kanwariyas takes place in Haridwar, along the ghats of Maa Ganga. The Kanwar Mela was observed in Bhado (Bhadrapad). The Kanwar Yatra has been held in Shravan Maas since 1960, and it travels to various places in Uttarakhand till the month of Dusshera. It is believed that the Devas performed Abhishek with Gangajal to minimize the effects of Halahala poison consumed by Bhagwan Shiva during Amrit Manthan. The annual pilgrimage commemorates this event.

“Some followers use different means of communication, like bicycles, scooters, motorcycles, jeeps, and mini-trucks to complete the journey. The devotees should be mindful that the pitchers should not touch the ground surface at any point during the journey. The saffron-coloured dress is a custom for the Kanwar Yatris, which has a dress code of t-shirts and shorts. The Kanwariyas continue the divine blessings from Lord Shiva by chanting Shiva Mantra and bhajans throughout the journey”, says India Today.

Other Dharmic Yatras across Bharat

The Wari in Maharashtra dates back 7-8 centuries. The temple towns of Dehu and Alandi are the starting points of the Wari. The Warkaris, devotees of Vitthal Bhagwan, accompany the padukas of Sant Tukaram and Sant Dnyaneshwar to Pandharpur. It is a 21-day annual yatra with pilgrims reaching Pandharpur on Ashadha Ekadashi.

The Kavadi tradition in Tamil Nadu is dedicated to Bhagwan Murugan (Kartikeya). Kavadi is a small wooden structure with an arch covered with cloth and peacock feathers on both ends. The devotee carries it on their shoulder along with bags of offerings. Kavadi bearers must observe austerities for 48 days, including not consuming liquor and non-vegetarian food. They usually wear yellow or saffron clothes. The annual pilgrimage is made during the two-day Thai Pusam festival.

The Sabarimala Yatra is an annual pilgrimage to the Sabarimala Temple in Kerala’s Western Ghats dedicated to Bhagwan Ayyappa, Dharma Shasta. This pilgrimage, marked by intense devotion and rigorous observances, occurs during the Mandala Kalam, 41 days from mid-November to mid-January, culminating in the Mandala Pooja and the Makara Vilakku festival. Pilgrims, referred to as Ayyappa Swamis or Sabarimala Swamis, undertake a 41-day Vrat, which includes abstaining from non-vegetarian food, alcohol, and tobacco, practising celibacy, wearing simple black or blue clothing, continuously chanting Sri Ayyappa’s name.

A significant part of the pilgrimage is the ascent of the 18 sacred steps, known as the Pathinettam Padi, each representing different human traits and qualities. Many pilgrims follow the traditional route from Erumely, trekking through the dense Periyar Tiger Reserve. The Makara Vilakku festival on Makara Sankranti is a highlight, believed to be marked by a celestial light indicating the presence of Bhagwan Ayyappa.

The Sabarimala Yatra is a journey of self-discipline, devotion, and spiritual cleansing. Devotees believe that completing the pilgrimage brings the blessings of Sri Ayyappa, bestowing peace, prosperity, and divine protection. This pilgrimage is a profound expression of faith and devotion, deeply embedded in the cultural and spiritual fabric of Hindu Dharma in South Bharat, exemplifying the timeless tradition of pilgrimage in Bharatiya Hindu civilization.

Social significance of Yatras

Yatras, Kanwars, and Palkhis are integral to Hindu society, bringing people from different walks of life and various social strata on a single platform. Both men and women participate in it with equal enthusiasm. The yatras take different forms in different parts of the country, but the ultimate goal is to unite people on one platform. The devotees submit unconditionally to the deity and come together to celebrate their Bhakti.

We have merely cited a few of the numerous yatras for spiritual enhancement and community bonding. Such a display of unity doesn’t go down well with the Leftist-Abrahamic-HINO (Hindus In Name Only) cabal that keeps looking for ways to diss Hindu Dharma and society. The cabal repeatedly argues that these yatras cause ‘traffic snarls’. Some traffic issues might arise, but the authorities can easily overcome them with better management.

In 2022, police unearthed an Islamist plot to defame Kanwariyas and stoke riots in UP’s Bijnor. The Kanwar Yatra is on the hit list of Islamic radicals and Hinduphobic ‘liberal-secular’ elites every year. While Islamists resort to violent attacks on these pilgrims or throw meat on their route, India’s Anglophone media is full of reports slandering the Hindu pilgrims as ‘hooligans’, ‘menace’, and even accusing the yatra of ‘food fascism’.

Update

(This article was updated with additional information on 22 July 2024 at 3.30 PM)

The UP state government and local administrations have intensified security measures to ensure the smooth and hassle-free completion of the Kanwar Yatra, which will occur from 22 July to 2 August this year. In Muzaffarnagar district, the local administration has mandated that hotels, dhabas, and food carts display the names of their proprietors and operators. However, alleged fact-checker POCSO-accused Mohd Zubair, AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi, and some Islamists have begun raising fake claims of religious discrimination. The security measures were put in place because several Islamist owners use Hindu names, and the Yatra requires observing austerities and maintaining sanctity.