Archive · 11 Aug 2026
Woman Carries 61 Litres on Kanwar Yatra After Exam Setback
A woman named Mansi Rajput lives in Uttar Pradesh, a state in India.
She studied very hard for three or four years because she wanted a government job.
She took the police exam and scored 266 marks, which is a very good score.
But she was not chosen, and she believes a rule called reservation is the reason.
This made her feel very sad and broken.
Her mother told her to leave the matter to God.
So Mansi decided to walk in a special holy journey called the Kanwar Yatra, carrying water to offer to Lord Shiva.
She planned to carry 21 litres, then 51 litres, and finally chose to carry 61 litres - that is very, very heavy!
She wanted to show everyone that girls can do hard things too, just like boys.
She says she can do everything that boys can do, and that Lord Shiva walks with her on the journey.
Mansi Rajput, a woman from Jewar, Uttar Pradesh, is carrying 61 litres of water on the Kanwar Yatra as an act of devotion to Lord Shiva.
She said she has been preparing for government examinations for the past three to four years, including the UP Police recruitment exam, but was not selected.
Rajput says she scored 266 marks and missed selection, telling people she 'didn't get my number due to reservation' as a general-category candidate.
She increased her planned water load from 21 litres to 51 litres and finally to 61 litres.
She is challenging those who say girls cannot step outside their homes or take on physically demanding tasks: 'I can do everything. I can do what boys can do.'
- Who
- Mansi Rajput, a woman from Jewar, Uttar Pradesh, who has been preparing for government service for 3-4 years.
- What
- Undertaking a Kanwar Yatra carrying 61 litres of water for Lord Shiva, after scoring 266 marks in the UP Police exam without being selected, and as a challenge to gender stereotypes.
- When
- Not specified in the article.
- Where
- She is from Jewar, Uttar Pradesh, India; the specific pilgrimage route is not detailed in the article.
- Why
- To express devotion to Lord Shiva, find strength after repeated exam disappointment, and challenge people who say women cannot do difficult tasks.
Status Quo Perspective
Challengers' Perspective
Reservation in Government Recruitment
Status Quo Perspective
Reservation is an established policy giving representation to historically disadvantaged groups in government jobs, and supporters defend it as necessary affirmative action.
Challengers' Perspective
General-category candidates such as Mansi Rajput say qualified applicants miss out - she says she 'didn't get my number due to reservation' despite scoring 266 marks - and believe selection should follow merit.
Women and Physically Demanding Tasks
Status Quo Perspective
Some people hold that women cannot step outside their homes or take on physically demanding challenges.
Challengers' Perspective
Rajput challenges this, saying 'I can do everything. I can do what boys can do,' and carried 61 litres of water on the Kanwar Yatra to prove women can handle difficult tasks.
- Person
- Mansi Rajput
- Hometown
- Jewar, Uttar Pradesh, India
- Pilgrimage
- Kanwar Yatra carrying 61 litres of water for Lord Shiva
- Exam
- UP Police recruitment examination
- Score
- 266 marks (not selected)
- Selection Claim
- Says she was '50-60 numbers from the last cut-off' and that 'the last list was on 183'
- Reason Claimed for Non-Selection
- Reservation policy; she is from the general category
- Preparation
- 3-4 years preparing for government exams
- Water Load Progression
- 21 litres -> 51 litres -> 61 litres