Lakhs of devotees every year, make an annual pilgrimage in the month of Shravan (July-August) to Haridwar, Rishikesh, Badrinath, Kedarnath in Himalaya to fetch Holy river Ganges water and bath their local Deity Lord Shiva in villages, towns or city temples across India. These pilgrims are known as Kanvarias.
HISTORY
Kanwar yatra is related to churning of ocean of the milk in Hindu Puranas. When poison came out before Amrita and world started burning from its heat then lord Shiva accepted to inhale poison. But, after inhaling it he started suffering from negative energy of poison. In Treta Yuga Lord Shiva's devout follower Ravana did meditation. He brought holy water of Ganga by using kanwar and pour it on lord Shiva temple in Puramahadev. It released Lord Shiva from the negative energy of poison. (Curtsy Wikipedia, click here to read more...)
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| A large sculpture of Shiva, as river Ganges comes down from heaven... TRIVENI GHAT - RISHIKESH |
This trend of walking on foot to fetch holy water was started by saints and older devotees few decades back but gained popularity in 1990's when young men from the villages, towns and cities started participating in the pilgrimage as an annual ritual. Around 8 million people were expected to be reaching Haridwar and Rishikesh this year (Hindustan Times Report) and I thought of being one of them again. As I was travelling to Delhi, I planned my trip to start from Dehradun to bring Holy water from Rishikesh, back to my home.
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| Jolly Grant Airport |
From Dehradun Airport, Rishikesh is around 35 Kms. I chose Rishikesh instead of Haridwar which is normal choice of pilgrims, since I find it more peaceful and have been visiting almost every year. The way from Dehradun to Rishikesh is also very beautiful and because of monsoon rains, the path is through 'fresh' lush green Deodar forests...
So here is my journey through some still images... Hope you will enjoy it.
So here is my journey through some still images... Hope you will enjoy it.
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| The way... |
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| Triveni Ghat at Rishikesh |
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| Finally reached... |
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| The Ganges in full flow.... |
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| Some of the devotees offering Ganga Jal to Sun God.... |
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| After the bath and meditation, a time to pose with a wandering Bhikshu... |
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| And the Sun set on the way back... It was important to cross this forest before night fall as wild elephant take over the route during the night. |
Hope you have liked the journey, through the images and if interested to join me in one of my journey to Rishikesh, please leave a comment below..
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Shashi
ॐ नमः शिवाय
Om Namah Shivaya
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