A single rotten fish spoils the entire pond
... The anger of 32-year-old Suraj is evident in these words. It's the pain of millions of devotees who journey to Haridwar every Shravan month to fetch the sacred Ganga water. A few misdeeds have put their devotion in the dock.
Suraj is journeying 237 kilometers from Haridwar towards Shitala Mata Temple. His feet are filled with thick blisters, but the pain in his heart runs deeper.
Viral videos on social media, news channel headlines, and some leaders calling Kanwariyas 'rioters', 'unemployed', and 'terrorists' pierce him like thorns.
Source: aajtak
Indeed, reports have surfaced of a few groups of Kanwariyas causing vandalism, road rage, and chaos in parts of the country. These incidents have cast doubt on those millions who tread barefoot on this journey of devotion, without any display.
'Memes are being made about us, people say Kanwariyas are rioters... Is our devotion really so cheap?' Rohit from Nangloi (24 years) says with a slight tremor in his voice. He has brought back 51 liters of water on his shoulders from Haridwar.
The taunt of unemployment and the response of faith
'Kanwariyas are unemployed', a taunt echoed by some leaders and people. But Yogesh, 25, from Dharuhera, Haryana, laughs it off.
'My uncle is in the BSF, my aunt is a lecturer. I work with glass doors myself. I closed my shop to devote myself to Baba.' Yogesh speaks with pride, and his accompanying uncle and aunt bolster this pride.
The thread of generations, the path of faith
For many devotees, the Kanwar Yatra is a tradition handed down through generations. Abhay from Delhi recounts witnessing his father bringing the Kanwar as a child implanted a dream in his eyes. Meanwhile, Shyam Singh was first shown the way to Haridwar by a brother from his neighborhood. This journey is not just about collecting water but holding onto the thread that connects them to their family, culture, and faith.
'Bhola's Thieves' and the noise of social media
What impact does social media have on the Kanwar Yatra?.... Our question wasn't even complete when Shubham Chandel, 28, from Delhi's Dwarka erupted. 'That's why the Bhola's thieves have increased.'
Bhola's thieves? Who are they?
The question was obvious and Shubham understood he would have to explain. He said, 'These are the people who take more water from Haridwar than they can carry just to garner numbers on Instagram Reels. Initially, it's all about showing off, but when real fatigue hits, they opt for cars, trucks, or rickshaws instead of walking. Some even abandon the Kanwar midway.'
Source: aajtak
Shubham feels that such individuals ridicule Bhola's devotion and tarnish the entire journey.
Kanwariyas clashing over tobacco and cigarettes
As we delved deeper into the Kanwar camp, we found a group of female Kanwariyas. We spoke with 45-year-old Sita. She, her husband, and son were returning from Haridwar with water, headed for Delhi's Rohini area. Her face was tired, tinged with annoyance.
She clearly stated, 'The conditions in Uttarakhand are poor. The Kanwar camps are just in name. Even a biscuit worth 10 rupees costs 15-20. You have to rent mattresses to sleep. And mobile charging? They charge 20-30 rupees per hour.'
Before Sita could finish, some Kanwariyas chimed in from behind, 'Yes, even chewing tobacco and cigarettes are expensive!' This angered Sita, and with her eyes showing irritation, she retorted, 'What is the use of these things on the journey?'
But they were ready with a response. Unhesitatingly, they said in unison, 'It's a habit, madam, how can we give it up? Anyway, we only indulge when the Kanwar is set down (hung for rest).'
This moment of confrontation saw faith, addiction, and arguments all standing face to face. The journey showed as much genuine faith as it laid human frailties bare.
Who's responsible for incidents of violence?
Surely, Kanwariyas endure immense hardships on this path of faith. They complete the journey despite everything. But can we ignore the annual viral videos of brawls, hooliganism, and traffic jams?
Rohit Thakur from Delhi's Ghonda area says, 'Such incidents mostly occur in Uttarakhand. There, the routes for Kanwariyas aren't properly designated. Often, the Kanwar is damaged by vehicles, and tempers flare.'
However, some devotees openly admit that the fault often lies with them as well. Leaving designated routes to walk on traffic-heavy roads, deliberately causing inconvenience to others—these actions often spark disputes. Thus, this journey of faith also puts the system and responsibility to the test.
After the entire discussion, one thing was clear... there are grievances in the hearts of these devotees, but not defeat. Where lapses in administration trouble them, negligence from some comrades and social media trolling wounds their spirit.
Yet the love and support from strangers met on the road and the power of devotion to Lord Shiva give their weary feet the strength to move forward again. For millions like Suraj, Rohit, Yogesh, Sita, and Shubham, the Kanwar Yatra is not just a ritual but a belief—a pull to the path of Haridwar every year.
