Prayagraj: The saffron-clad kanwariyas thronging the highways this Shrawan are not just seasoned devotees. Among them is a group of five friends aged 16 to 20 from neighbouring Kaushambi, who have chosen to balance competitive exam preparations with their first kanwar yatra, inspired by the honour and recognition the pilgrimage brings in their villages.Acknowledging that devotees who undertake the pilgrimage enjoy great respect in villages and small towns, the group of young and enthusiastic kanwariyas has embarked on the yatra for the first time.Apart from preparing for their competitive examinations, Bhuvnesh and his four close friends chose to undertake the yatra during the ongoing Shrawan month.Starting their holy journey from Bharwari in Kaushambi, the group on Tuesday collected holy Ganga water from Dashashwamedh Ghat before proceeding to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple for ‘Jalabhishek’.Currently pursuing the final year of their graduation, Bhuvnesh and his friends are set to cover at least 120 km on foot to reach Kashi and offer Jalabhishek. This is the first time Bhuvnesh has undertaken the pilgrimage, and he finds it comfortable as walking in a group also brings fun and camaraderie.He said, “Once we determine our willpower to undertake the Kanwar Yatra, Lord Shiv gives us the inner strength to reach our destination.”He added, “Apart from pursuing our studies and preparing for competitive examinations, my four friends and I, all belonging to the same age group, decided to undertake the Kanwar Yatra for the first time to seek the fulfilment of our wishes.”He further said, “We have pooled our money to cover the journey and will bring prasad for our family members. In my hometown, devotees who undertake the pilgrimage enjoy great respect, and that is what inspired my friends and me to become a part of it.”Manish, another young kanwariya, said, “Before leaving for the kanwar yatra, we learnt the basics of the holy journey from our elders and decided to follow the same path.”He added, “I was 16 years old when I first became a part of the Kanwar Yatra with my elder brother. I still have fresh memories of my first Kanwar Yatra, and we usually form groups every year for the pilgrimage.”Officials at the Daraganj police outpost said, “The majority of kanwariyas arriving at the Ganga ghat to collect holy water belong to the 18-30 years age group.”They added, “The number of kanwariyas arriving from all corners of the state is increasing with every passing day.”Senior police officers are maintaining a close watch on the ghats and have instructed their subordinates to ensure that young kanwariyas do not venture into deep water in excitement. For this, swimmers and Jal Police personnel have been deployed at the ghats.
