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In the month of Shravan which is the monsoon arrival months of July-August, the north of India resonates with the chant of “Har Har Mahadev” and “Bam Bam Bhole”. Millions of Kanwariya’s - ardent worshippers of Lord Shiva dressed in saffron robes can be seen running/walking on the roads of North India carrying poles across their shoulders from which hangs water-pots in little cane baskets (kanwars).  These people are called Kanwariyas and their mission is to fetch Gangajal- the holy water from the Ganga in Haridwar, Gangotri or Gaumukh (the glacier from where the Ganga originates) in Uttaranchal or Prayag(Allahabad), return to their hometown to consecrate the  Shiva lingams as a gesture of thanks giving to God Shiva.

This relgious marathon is the toughest test of their faith in Lord Shiva. Kanwariyas take this journey for two reasons - to thank Lord Shiva for fulfilling their wishes and to pray for the things to remain as they are. In keeping with the tradition they offer a portion of the Gangajal collected to a nearby Shiva temple. They travel all or part on foot and take one meal a day.

The most gruelling type of Kanwar is the ‘dak bam’ in which the Kanwariya has to keep running like an athlete carrying the Olympic torch. They complete the yatra running all the way. These marathon runners cover the journey in a specified period. The distances are almost always more than 100 kms and in some parts the Kanwariyas cover almost 500 kms on foot on the sheer strength of their rock-solid faith in Lord Mahadev, another name for Shiva.

If someone gets sick or too tired on the way that person is free to break his journey and give his Kanwar to another one from his group. Kanwariyas are not supposed to even think of any wrong doings during the yatra.

It is a convention that water- pot (kanwar) must not touch the ground till the time of consecration. Chanting Har Har Mahadev, the Kanwariyas carry the vessels containing the holy water on their shoulders. All along the route voluntary organisations as well as the government put-up make-shift stands where the kanwars can be kept. They also put-up food and medical stalls for the benefit of the yatris.

Millions of Kanwariyas thronged the most sacred of all Shiva temples, the Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi yesterday to complete the ritual bathing of Shiva Lingam at the temple. The people of Varanasi poured water on the long queue of Kanwariyas to cool them as they stood waiting in the sweltering heat for their turn to perform the “Jalabhishek” or bathing of the Lingam. Water was poured on the streets from where these processions passed to cool the roads burning like an oven in the scorching summer sun. These Kanwariyas had carried the holy water of the river Ganges from Allahabad, a distance of 150 kms from Varanasi. In the oven-like heat of the north Indian summer, it is virtually a miracle that almost all of them make it safely to the temple and perform the ritual.

Enroute, the support that the Kanwariyas recieve from the local population is a indication of how religion still fosters solidarity in India.

God bless the Kanwariyas!