Why is Kanwar Yatra carried out in Sawan?

In the month of Sawan, Shiva devotees take out Kanwar on their shoulders and perform Jalabhishek of Shivling with the water of holy rivers. This year also the month of Sawan has started from 22nd July. T

he government has made tremendous arrangements for the Kanwad Yatra in North India. Along with this, there was also a controversy regarding the new rule issued regarding writing the name on the food and drink shops on the travel route regarding the Kanwar Yatra.

Apart from this, traffic advisories are also being issued in view of the Kanwar Yatra, so that Kanwar pilgrims and common people do not face any problem. In such a situation, many people are curious to know why every year in Sawan a large number of Shiva devotees take out Kanwar Yatra wearing saffron colored clothes, what is the importance of Kanwar Yatra, when and how did it start? Know the answers to all these.

The Kanwar Yatra to be carried out in the month of Sawan in the year 2024 has started from Monday, July 22. In Sawan, Shiva devotees travel several kilometers to bring water from holy rivers and anoint the Shivling with it. Mainly the Shivling is anointed by bringing water from the Ganges river. On the day of Sawan Shivratri, Kanwariyas anoint the Shivling with Ganga water. This year Sawan Shivratri is on August 2, 2024.

This is why the Kanwar Yatra is carried out 

There are many mythological stories behind the Kanwar Yatra. According to one story, Lord Parshuram had taken out the Kanwar Yatra for the first time and he was the first Kanwadia. Lord Parshuram, a devotee of Lord Shiva, had taken Gangajal from Garhmukteshwar and performed Jalabhishek of Shivling to please Lord Shiva, since then the Kanwar Yatra started.

According to another story, when Lord Shiva’s throat started burning due to drinking the poison Halahal that came out of the churning of the ocean, then Ravana, a great devotee of Lord Shiva, brought water from a Kanwar and anointed Lord Shiva. This gave relief to Lord Shiva, and since then, the Kanwar Yatra is carried out to please Lord Shiva.