FairIndian · Hindu
Shravani Mela
Kanwar Mela
Next date
Sunday, 18 July 2027
- Tithi at sunrise
- Full Moonuntil 21:14
- Nakshatra
- Purva Ashadhauntil 11:17
- Lunar month
- Ashadh
- Sunrise
- 06:03Sunset 19:28
In short
A hundred and five kilometres on foot, barefoot, carrying Ganga water on a shoulder pole.
The story
Water is lifted from the Ganga at Sultanganj and carried to the Shiva temple at Deoghar without ever being set down - the kanwar rests on a stand, not on the ground, and the walker does not wear shoes. It is 105 kilometres and takes most people three or four days. Through the month of Shravan the road is a continuous line of walkers in saffron, and Deoghar takes several million of them.
Why it matters
The observance is the walk, not the arrival. Everything difficult about it - the distance, the bare feet, the pot that may not touch the ground - is the offering.
Fasting
Many walk on one meal a day. Meat, alcohol and onion are given up for the whole month by those who keep it.
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