Queue Of Devotees


An orderly queue of the devoted: Hindu worshippers take to roads of India clad in saffron robes as they carry holy water from the Ganges to their home temples

    These amazing photographs capture the pilgrimage of the Hindu Kanwarias, devoted worshippers of Hindu God Shiva.
The Kanwarias carry metal canisters filled with holy water from the Ganges River and take a ritual journey of the roads of India
Yesterday they gathered in hundreds to walk to the revered Padilla Mahadev temple on the outskirts of Allahabad.



Holy carriage: Worshippers of Hindu God Shiva fetch holy water from the Ganger River and carry it in a ritual pilgrimage
Holy carriage: Worshippers of Hindu God Shiva fetch holy water from the Ganger River and carry it in a ritual pilgrimage
Long and winding road: The Indian Hindu Kanwarias take the water of the Ganges River back to Hindu temples in their hometowns
Long and winding road: The Indian Hindu Kanwarias take the water of the Ganges River back to Hindu temples in their hometowns
Holy walk: Hundreds of Kanwarias, devotees to Hindu god Shiva, traveled to Allahabad to the revered local Shiva temple as part of their pilgrimage
Holy walk: Hundreds of Kanwarias, devotees to Hindu god Shiva, traveled to Allahabad to the revered local Shiva temple as part of their pilgrimage
The Kanwarias dress in saffron colours on their pilgrimage and carry the ornately decorated canisters over their shoulders for hundreds of miles back to their home towns.
 
    They fetch the water as a gesture of thanksgiving to Shiva and walk for days, some braving Indian roads and highways barefoot.
    Kanwarias are named after the pole, kanwar, which they sling over their shoulders to carry their metal pots.
    In line: The Indian Hindu Kanwarias walk towards Padilla Mahadev temple wearing sarrfon coloured clothing and and carrying ornately decorated canisters of the sacred water of the Ganges River over their shoulders
    In line: The Indian Hindu Kanwarias walk towards Padilla Mahadev temple wearing saffron coloured clothing and and carrying the ornately decorated canisters of the sacred water of the Ganges River over their shoulders
    A worshipper touches the wall of the temple

    An Indian Hindu Kanwarias, worshipper of Hindu God Shiva, writes holy Hindu scripts on leaves
    Prayer: A Kanwarias worshipper touches the wall of the temple and another  writes holy Hindu scripts on leaves to bring on the journey and sacrifice to Shiva
    Hundreds took part in the walk yesterday, most wearing orange coloured clothing as they performed the holy ritual pilgrimage for Kanwarias
    Hundreds took part in the walk yesterday, most wearing orange coloured clothing as they performed the holy ritual pilgrimage for Kanwarias
    Their annual pilgrimage is known as Kanvar Yatra or Kavad Yatra and sees them visit Haridwar, Gaumukh and Gangotri in Uttarakhand to fetch holy waters of Ganges River, 
    The pilgrimage always takes during the sacred month of Shravan and has grown in popularity in recent years.
    As the numbers have grown, security measures have had to be undertaken and the rows upon rows of pilgrims are known to stop highway traffic on national Indian roads.
    Sacrifice: Metal canisters are kept on the ground outside the Padilla Mahadev temple, one revered among Shiva worshippers, in Allahabad, India before being offered to Shiva
    Sacrifice: Metal canisters are kept on the ground outside the Padilla Mahadev temple, one revered among Shiva worshippers, in Allahabad, India before being offered to Shiva
    Long walk home: The canisters of holy water is carried to each of the Kaniwaras' home towns for their temples
    Long walk home: The canisters of holy water is carried to each of the Kanwarias' home towns for their temples

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