Monsoon Month of Sawan Marks Kanwar Yatra and Shiva Worship Across India

NEW DELHI, July 30 — As the monsoon rains drape the subcontinent, the month of Sawan arrives, heralding a period of intense Shiva worship and the famed Kanwar pilgrimage. Pilgrims, called Kanwaris, travel on foot from distant villages to collect holy Ganges water, which they later present at Shiva temples for the ritual abhishek.

The practice is accompanied by strict vegetarian diets, with participants avoiding meat and fish throughout the month. Religious scholars note that the period is also linked to Parvati’s austerities to win Shiva’s affection, making Sawan a potent time for seeking marital harmony and spiritual blessings.

Major temples reported unusually long queues, with worshippers chanting mantras, ringing bells and offering bel leaves. The atmosphere was charged with devotion, underscoring Sawan’s status as one of Hinduism’s most auspicious seasons.