Image: Zee News
It is a month-long ceremony, performed annually by devotees of Shiva known as Kanwariyas.
The Kanwariyas collect holy water from river Ganga while walking barefoot in specific dresses.
The devotees return with holy water to their hometown and conduct a ‘Abhishekam' in the popular Shiva temple of their area.
According to the holy books, it is believed that theKanwaryatra was started after ‘Samundra Manthan’ which released both poison and ‘amrit’
The poison released during ‘Samundra Manthan’ created panic in the world, it was then Lord Shiva became the savior and drank the whole poison by himself.
It is believed that the poison in Lord Shiva’s neck created a negative energy and it was Ravana who ejected those energies from Lord.
As per the Vedas, Ravana performed religious austerity and did a ‘Abhishekam’ of Lord Shiva with the holy water of Ganga which relieved him and since then this is performed as a ceremony.
The holy month of Sawan is from July 22 to August 19.