‘Uttarakhand expects over 5 crore pilgrims during Kanwar Yatra’

Expecting a footfall of more than 5 crore pilgrims during the holy month of Shravan, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Thursday assured that all arrangements for a safe Kanwar Yatra have been made by the state administration.

«We have made all the arrangements regarding the smooth conduct and safety during the Kanwar Yatra. We appeal to them to follow the rules made by the administration,» Dhami said. «This time, we expect more than 5 crores in Kanwar Yatra. No matter how many Lord Shiva devotees come, everyone is welcome.»

The ‹Kanwar Yatra› is an annual pilgrimage of Lord Shiva›s devotees that started Thursday. The Kanwariyas (pilgrims) visit places like Haridwar, Gaumukh and Gangotri in Uttarakhand and Sultanganj in Bihar to fetch the holy water of River Ganga. They then worship God with the same water.

In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the Kanwar Yatra in 2021 was cancelled in Uttarakhand and entry at ‹Har ki Pauri› was also restricted.

Thursday also marks the onset of the holy month of ‹Sawan› (Shravan), which is considered to be the most auspicious month of the year. The month holds great significance for devotees of Lord Shiva, who is considered the Supreme Lord, the creator, protector, and destroyer of the universe, according to Hindu religious beliefs.

During the month of Shravan, the devotees observe fasts on Mondays which are considered to be particularly auspicious days of the month. Lord Shiva is worshipped on Mondays throughout the year and the Mondays of this month are especially significant with the whole month being dedicated to the lord. The festival is celebrated predominantly in north India. This year Sawan started on 14 July and will end on 12 August. Four Mondays will be 18 July, 25 July, 1 and 8 August.