Bamboo poles and boomboxes: The kanwar yatra's ancient roots, faith and modern-day frictions

Kanwar yatra 2026 began on July 30, with millions of saffron-clad devotees traveling on foot across northern and central India.

Pilgrims (kanwariyas) carry decorated bamboo poles (kanwar) with containers of holy water (Gangajal) from the Ganga or other sacred rivers to Shiva temples for jalabhishek.

The pilgrimage occurs during the Hindu month of Shravan, coinciding with the monsoon, and is known as Bol Bam Yatra in Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Odisha.

Key water collection sites include Gaumukh, Gangotri, Haridwar (Uttarakhand), and Sultanganj (Bihar), the latter being an Uttarvahini Ganga site.

The kanwar yatra requires extensive logistics including traffic diversions, security, camps, and medical facilities, and has sparked debate over its impact on local commerce and communities.