Source: blog.taragana.com
PATNA, INDIA, July 15, 2009: A group of “kanwarias”, devotees of Lord Shiva, are drawing wide public attention for carrying a 54-feet long kanwar –a wooden carrier fitted with water pots on both ends of the pole — in Patna city.
Hundreds of thousands of devotees take an arduous on-foot religious journey to express their devotion for Lord Shiva in the Hindu month of Shravan or Monsoon month (mid June to July).
Normally, as per the ritual, a devotee is expected to carry one kanwar on behalf of his family. But, this time, a family and their friends, a total of 18 people, are carrying the long kanwar. They say are praying for the well-being of their family and all people. They will traverse hundreds of kilometres to reach the holy town of Badrinath.