Bharat and Lord Shiva the same, say the Kanwadiyas, thronging holy city

Driven by a patriotic wave with the Independence Day approaching near, the Kanwadiyas, coming to Haridwar, are seen now with  the Indian tri-colour mounted  atop their pilgrimage carts known as kanwads and also on the motor bikes they ride.  Those who are coming on foot in groups are also seen holding the same in their proud hands.  While the saffron sparkling of their T-shirts signifies their religious fervour the tri-colour epitomises their love for the country. Every fourth Kanwad seen on the bustling national highway is seen with the symbol of the Indian nationhood and its unity as an accompaniment of the pilgrimage.

The Kanwadiyas decorate the water pots they carry to collect the holy Gangajal and the carts they are coming on in myriad ways as they are coming a long way from their far-flung native places to the holy city on the pilgrimage. Many discard the old ones they come with and take new ones while some go back home with the old ones filed with the holy water. The Panchak period being over, the rush of the pilgrims has been now more visible on the highway and the roads which cut through Kankhal. 

Not just their dress and flags, the songs which are blaring from their carts are tinged with the nationalistic fervour. The roads they are treading on are now reverberating with the devotional chants like ‘Bum Bum’ as well as with the nationalism-inspired songs which are accompanying the pilgrimage, signifying the fact that devotion to religion and devotion to the country mean the same-spiritualism, the keynote of the Indian nationhood.  

While speaking to The Pioneer, a Kanwad pilgrim from Haryana, Himadri Singh said, “Our heritage and culture is very rich, its assimilative spirit, connoting the hospitable, generous soul of the Mother India, the oneness of all.

This is the culture we are proud of. Shivaratri festival is special. It is celebrated twice a year–one in Shrawan or July and Phalgun or February. Lord Shiva en-souls India. And so Lord Shiva and Bharat are the same to us.” 

What is being seen is that nearly 70% of the pilgrims coming from Kumaon and from other parts of Uttarakhand as well as those coming from Northern India are displaying their love for the country as well as the love for the religion they profess and the Lord they worship.

The tri-colour is seen fluttering atop their carts as they are marching their way to the banks of the holy river chanting the name of God in whose name they are undertaking the arduous pilgrimage, crossing miles  while braving torrential rains to please Him.

 “Tiranga hi maeri aan ban aur shan hai, jisey mein hamesha lekar chalta hun (The tri-colour is my pride which I wear on my sleeves), said one of the pilgrims from Modinagar.