After the hot, scorching heat of the summers, India waits impatiently for the respite of the monsoons. But besides the relief these rains bring, this is also a time of fasting and reverence for the devotees of Lord Diety. According to the Hindu calendar, the holy month of Shravan begins in July. Chants of ‘Bam Bam Bhole’ resound through the skies as countless pilgrims and sadhus visit Vaidyanatha Jyotirlinga Temple, also known as Baba Baidyanath Dham in Deoghar, Jharkhand - one of the most sacred abodes of Diety.
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They walk for 108 km to the temple and offer holy water from the Ganges to Lord Diety. This pilgrimage, also known as Kanwar Yatra, is extremely sacred and is a clear reflection of the devotion pilgrims and sadhus have.
Barefoot and clad in saffron attire, these devotees defy obstacles in their way
As per reports, Kanwar Yatra is one of the largest religious gatherings that takes place in India with over 10 million pilgrims coming together to pay their homage to Lord Diety. These devotees are called Kanwariyas. They come majorly from the states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Delhi, and Haryana, as well as from Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh Odisha, and Jharkhand. They wear saffron clothes and walk barefoot for long distances often supported by their family and friends.
In their long, devotional journey, they get tired and hungry without access to proper food and water. A businessman in Varanasi, Sanjay Pathak wants to ensure that they don’t go hungry any longer. Five years ago, he started by feeding poor and hungry sadhus near Assi Ghat in the holy city and today he has his own organization, Shivdham Trust. Ever since then, he has been feeding over 150 hungry souls every single day.
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“This yatra is important to so many people, and despite the journey being so difficult, their faith and belief don’t waver for a second. In my own way, I want to support their cause and help them by feeding them warm meals,” Sanjay Pathak.
Join hands to feed the Kanwariyas
Pilgrims come from all over the country and have to walk long distances during the Yatra. Fresh and healthy meals will help them immensely. Along with the pilgrims, the sadhus too, will be fed warm meals, and for all of this Sanjay Pathak needs your help. You can support his cause by donating grocery kits. Every single donation is sure to bring some respite to the pilgrims of Kanwar Yatra.
About Sanjay Pathak: For the last 5 years, Sanjay Pathak has been working to give the sadhus and others in need a better and more comfortable life. A businessman in Varanasi, he has been feeding 150 hungry sadhus in need through his NGO, Shivdham Trust. With your help, he can reach out to many more who require support.
