3 weeks ago
Record 4.43 crore devotees join Kanwar Yatra at Haridwar
The Kanwar Yatra is a special walk that happens every year during a holy month called Sawan.
Many people who follow the Hindu god Shiva take part in it.
They walk, sometimes for hundreds of kilometres, to a city called Haridwar.
There, they fill decorated pots, called Kanwars, with water from the holy Ganges river.
Then they carry the water all the way back home.
They offer the water to Lord Shiva at temples on a special day called Shivratri.
This year, a record number of about 4.43 crore people, which is more than 44 million, took part.
On Monday alone, around 63.60 lakh pilgrims came to Haridwar to get the water.
The government and police set up places for rest, drinking water and medical care along the way.
The walk lasts 15 days, from July 30 until August 11.
The Kanwar Yatra saw a record turnout of around 4.43 crore devotees returning home with Ganga water from Haridwar by Monday evening.
The annual 15-day pilgrimage began on July 30 with the start of the Sawan month and concludes on August 11.
Around 63.60 lakh pilgrims reached Haridwar on Monday alone to collect Ganga water, police said.
Kanwariyas travel hundreds of kilometres on foot, carrying holy water in decorated Kanwars to offer to Lord Shiva at temples on Shivratri.
The Uttarakhand administration and police made arrangements for security, medical care, drinking water, rest areas and traffic management along the Kanwar routes.
- Who
- Shiva devotees, called Kanwariyas, from various parts of the country, with arrangements managed by the Uttarakhand administration and police.
- What
- A record Kanwar Yatra turnout of around 4.43 crore devotees collected Ganga water from Haridwar and returned home.
- Where
- Haridwar, Uttarakhand, and along the Kanwar routes leading to it.
- When
- The Yatra began on July 30 with the start of Sawan and concludes on August 11; record numbers were recorded by Monday evening.
- Why
- Devotees collect Ganga water to offer to Lord Shiva at temples on Shivratri as part of the annual Sawan pilgrimage.
Key facts
- Record turnout
- Around 4.43 crore devotees
- Pilgrims on Monday
- Around 63.60 lakh reached Haridwar
- Duration
- 15 days, July 30 – August 11
- Location
- Haridwar, Uttarakhand
- Occasion
- Sawan month; water offered to Lord Shiva on Shivratri
- Travel
- On foot, hundreds of kilometres, carrying decorated Kanwars
- Arrangements
- Security, medical care, drinking water, rest areas, traffic management
Sources
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