As Shravan begins, commuters in Delhi will witness the most common scenarios on the roads during this time, saffron-clad Shiva devotees popularly known as Kanwars. During the Kanwar (kavad) yatra, Shiv Bhakts walk barefoot on the streets carrying two pitchers of holy water from river Ganga on their shoulders. The month of Shravana is said to be the annual month of pilgrimage of the Kanwars or Kanwariyas. It traces major significance and history among the Hindu traditions. As per the schedule, Kanwar yatra 2018 has already begun from July 28, and the Delhi traffic police have made elaborate arrangements for the smooth functioning of the celebrations. Golden Baba is Back on Kanwar Yatra, This Time With 20 kg Gold; See Pics. 

With the beginning of the fifth month of the Hindu calendar; Shravan a number of auspicious festivals and events such as Hariyali Teej, Nag Panchami and Raksha Bandhan. It is speculated that the Kanwar Yatra will continue till August 9, 2018. The District Magistrate directed to all schools in Meerut to be closed on August 3 in view of Kanwar Yatra.

Kanwar Yatra 2018 History & Significance:

This year, Kanwar Yatra commenced from July 28 and will continue till August 9. The history of this auspicious walk is often explained in two mythological stories. In the Hindu Puranas, the Kanwar Yatra is related to the churning of the ocean of milk. As narrated in the Bhagwat Purana, when the poison came out before Amrita or the nectar of immortality, the world started burning from its heat. Lord Shiva consumed the poison to protect the living world. It was so violent that it changed the colour of Shiva’s neck into blue. And to reduce to the impact of the poison, Gods and Devas poured Ganga water to Lord Shiva.

The other story is originated to Lord Parashurama, who is popularly known as the firm devotee of Shiva. Traditionally, it is he who is believed to be the first to undertake the Kanwar Yatra. In Uttar Pradesh’s Pura, he laid the foundation of the Shiva temple and fetched gangajal every Monday in Saavan worshipping Shiva.

Traffic Arrangements in Delhi for Kanwar Yatra 2018:

Huge arrangements have been initiated by the Delhi traffic police ahead of Kanwar Yatra 2018. The police officials have alerted motorists to expect snarls around the highways due to tents which have been set up by the Kanwariya committees. According to the arrangement, no heavy commercial vehicles, except city buses will be allowed on GT Road towards Shahdara and Wazirabad Road. Vehicles proceeding towards Haridwar and Dehradun, such vehicles will go via Ganganagar Barrage, Bijnor. The planned diversion arrangements were active from July 31 to the evening of August 10 till 6:00 pm.

Up till the late 1980s, the Yatra used to be a small affair undertaken by a few saints and older devotees. Gradually, it started gaining popularity. According to media reports, the Kanwar pilgrimage to Haridwar, in particular, has grown to be India’s most significant annual religious gathering. Shiv Bhakts gathers from the states of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Punjab, Bihar and some from Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh to mark the auspicious Kanwar Yatra 2018.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 01, 2018 11:51 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).