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Kanwariyas: In Good Faith
Report: Srikant PratyushProgramme: Special CorrespondentTelecast: Saturday (July 26) at 9:30 pm Thursday (July 31) at 4:30 pm
Report: Srikant Pratyush
Programme: Special Correspondent
Telecast: Saturday (July 26) at 9:30 pm Thursday (July 31) at 4:30 pm A saffron hued human chain connects various ghats of Ganga to the abodes of Lord Shiva all through the Hindu month of Sharawan. One such journey of faith was undertaken by our reporter Srikant Pratyush, where he followed the footsteps of devotees of Lord Shiva and tried to match their verve and ebullience. Saffron-clad, barefoot and carrying colourful Kanwars on their shoulders millions of Kanwariyas(pilgrims) embark on a holy trek during the month long "Shrawani fair"
Kanwariyas from various parts of the country and from some neighbouring countries as well, take holy water from Ganga at Sultanganj, to pour it over the mythological Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva at Deoghar in Jharkhand. The idea is to earn religious merit by undertaking the arduous journey — which can be hundreds of miles long — to collect Ganga water and bring it back for the ritual bath of Lord Shiva. Marching in picturesque columns amid the ebullient chants of "bol-bam" the Kanwariyas take the 70 mile long journey in their stride. It`s their unwavering and resolute faith in Baba, Lord Shiva, that sustains them, drives them all through the journey. And what a journey it is. The entire ambience charged with devotion, the air waves taken over by chants, slogans, songs all dedicated to their ultimate deity -Shiv. This entire route becomes engulfed in Lord Shiva`s fervour by the chanting of his holy name. All that the Kanwariyas have on their minds is to make their journey successful by catching a glimpse of the Shivling. The pilgrims, all on the same mission, develop a strong sense of camaraderie. The psychological and moral support they silently receive from fellow trekkers, who are otherwise utter strangers, goes a long way in mitigating the rigours of travel. There is no need to exchange names or addresses. The convention is to address each other as “Bhole”, one of the names of Lord Shiva, and that is all the introduction one needs. Differences of caste, creed or social status are all swept aside. Their are many such batches of Kanwariyas .Two particular being the Dak Kanwariyas and the Dand Kawariyas. Dand Kanwariyas are so called because they deliberately make their journey tough to atone themselves for their sins. Seeking forgiveness from Shiva, they crush and clobber all the self-created difficulties as penitence. Where some do it out of fear for others its sheer gratitude Dak Kanwariyas cover the enitre 105 km stretch in one day. To facilitate easy darshan for these devotees on the run the civil administration issues special registration slips to them. Our team got a tete-a-tete with one such Kanwariya. A doctor by profession, Rekha confessed to becoming a Dak Bam after her benevolent Lord granted some of her wishes. But at Deoghar such unquestioned faith is nothing new. Millions have taken this pilgrimage for know not how many years. The place cannot be overlooked from the historical and mythological point of view. It was in the Treta Yug that demon King Ravana coincidentaly established the Lingam. Padma Purana supports this fact. According to another tradition not noted in any other purana ,the Lingam lay neglected after the death of Ravana until it was noticed by a rude hunter , Baiju, who accepted it as his God and worshipped daily; proclaiming the world as the lord of Baiju (Baidyanath) Some of the puranas ascribe the advent of Baidnath at Deoghar to the Satya Yug or the first age of the world. It was at this spot that Sati, the wife of Shiva and the daughter of Raja Daksha, committed suicide in consequence of the discourtsey shown to her husband by her father . Hence the place is called Siddapeeth. Whatever the legend, Shiva to his devotees at Deoghar is not a myth, rather it`s a live concept. He`s not just a source of life but a deity that splashes love and devotion in everyone.
For the Kanwariyas He`s supreme, whose blessings the entire world seeks . For them Shiva is faith and the slogan of "bol bam" victory of their faith.
Programme: Special Correspondent
Telecast: Saturday (July 26) at 9:30 pm Thursday (July 31) at 4:30 pm A saffron hued human chain connects various ghats of Ganga to the abodes of Lord Shiva all through the Hindu month of Sharawan. One such journey of faith was undertaken by our reporter Srikant Pratyush, where he followed the footsteps of devotees of Lord Shiva and tried to match their verve and ebullience. Saffron-clad, barefoot and carrying colourful Kanwars on their shoulders millions of Kanwariyas(pilgrims) embark on a holy trek during the month long "Shrawani fair"
Kanwariyas from various parts of the country and from some neighbouring countries as well, take holy water from Ganga at Sultanganj, to pour it over the mythological Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva at Deoghar in Jharkhand. The idea is to earn religious merit by undertaking the arduous journey — which can be hundreds of miles long — to collect Ganga water and bring it back for the ritual bath of Lord Shiva. Marching in picturesque columns amid the ebullient chants of "bol-bam" the Kanwariyas take the 70 mile long journey in their stride. It`s their unwavering and resolute faith in Baba, Lord Shiva, that sustains them, drives them all through the journey. And what a journey it is. The entire ambience charged with devotion, the air waves taken over by chants, slogans, songs all dedicated to their ultimate deity -Shiv. This entire route becomes engulfed in Lord Shiva`s fervour by the chanting of his holy name. All that the Kanwariyas have on their minds is to make their journey successful by catching a glimpse of the Shivling. The pilgrims, all on the same mission, develop a strong sense of camaraderie. The psychological and moral support they silently receive from fellow trekkers, who are otherwise utter strangers, goes a long way in mitigating the rigours of travel. There is no need to exchange names or addresses. The convention is to address each other as “Bhole”, one of the names of Lord Shiva, and that is all the introduction one needs. Differences of caste, creed or social status are all swept aside. Their are many such batches of Kanwariyas .Two particular being the Dak Kanwariyas and the Dand Kawariyas. Dand Kanwariyas are so called because they deliberately make their journey tough to atone themselves for their sins. Seeking forgiveness from Shiva, they crush and clobber all the self-created difficulties as penitence. Where some do it out of fear for others its sheer gratitude Dak Kanwariyas cover the enitre 105 km stretch in one day. To facilitate easy darshan for these devotees on the run the civil administration issues special registration slips to them. Our team got a tete-a-tete with one such Kanwariya. A doctor by profession, Rekha confessed to becoming a Dak Bam after her benevolent Lord granted some of her wishes. But at Deoghar such unquestioned faith is nothing new. Millions have taken this pilgrimage for know not how many years. The place cannot be overlooked from the historical and mythological point of view. It was in the Treta Yug that demon King Ravana coincidentaly established the Lingam. Padma Purana supports this fact. According to another tradition not noted in any other purana ,the Lingam lay neglected after the death of Ravana until it was noticed by a rude hunter , Baiju, who accepted it as his God and worshipped daily; proclaiming the world as the lord of Baiju (Baidyanath) Some of the puranas ascribe the advent of Baidnath at Deoghar to the Satya Yug or the first age of the world. It was at this spot that Sati, the wife of Shiva and the daughter of Raja Daksha, committed suicide in consequence of the discourtsey shown to her husband by her father . Hence the place is called Siddapeeth. Whatever the legend, Shiva to his devotees at Deoghar is not a myth, rather it`s a live concept. He`s not just a source of life but a deity that splashes love and devotion in everyone.
For the Kanwariyas He`s supreme, whose blessings the entire world seeks . For them Shiva is faith and the slogan of "bol bam" victory of their faith.