In Meerut on Thursday, flower petals were showered from a helicopter over Kanwariyas, marking a special moment for the devotees. The previous day, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami attended the ‘Shiv Samagam’ event in Haridwar, where he launched the book “The Eternal Lord Great Shiva Temples of Uttarakhand,” a compilation by the Haridwar District Administration highlighting various Shiva temples in the state.
During the event, Chief Minister Dhami expressed his honor in serving the Shiva devotees, or Kanwariyas, as the state’s Chief Servant. He described this role as a blessing from Lord Mahadev. He also highlighted the Kanwar Yatra’s unifying nature, drawing people from various states to Haridwar to collect holy water from the Ganges.
On Tuesday, Dhami welcomed Kanwar Yatris at Om Pul Ghat near Damkothi in Haridwar by washing their feet and presenting them with garlands, shawls, and Gangajal. The Kanwar Yatra, a significant religious ritual, involves devotees collecting sacred river water in small mud pots known as kanwars. Dressed in saffron attire, they journey on foot to Shiva temples, carrying the holy water.
Kanwariyas visit sacred locations such as Haridwar, Gaumukh, Gangotri in Uttarakhand, and Sultanganj in Bihar to fetch Ganges water for worship. The Hindu calendar’s ‘Sawan’ or ‘Shravan’ month, beginning on July 22, is particularly holy, with Mondays considered auspicious for fasting and seeking Lord Shiva’s blessings.