Dak Kanwar Yatra Rules: The month of Sawan is considered very special for devotion to Lord Shiva. During this time, lakhs of Shiva devotees from across the country reach Haridwar, Gangotri and other holy places and perform Jalabhishek of Lord Bholenath in nearby Shiva temples with Ganga water. Many types of Kanwar are seen during the Kanwar Yatra, among which Dak Kanwar is also considered very special. But do you know what Dak Kanwar is and how its rules are different from the common Kanwar Yatra?
What is Dak Kanwar?
Dak Kanwar is a special form of Kanwar Yatra. In this, Shiva devotees take Ganga water to their destination i.e. Shiva They move quickly towards the temple, where they have to perform Jalabhishek of Lord Shiva. Time is considered of special importance in this journey. During Dak Kanwar, devotees usually travel continuously and carry Ganga water with them. Many times, some people in the group of devotees move forward on foot and some in vehicles.
Its objective is to carry Ganga water to Shivalinga within the stipulated time and perform Jalabhishek. The word post is seen here associated with speed and tradition of delivering messages. Just as in ancient times, the postal system was used to quickly send messages from one place to another, in the same way, in Dak Kanwar, there is a belief in sending Ganga water to the destination without wasting much time.
Time has special importance in Dak Kanwar
In the normal Kanwar Yatra, devotees stop on the way as per their convenience, take rest and keep the Kanwar at the designated place. At the same time, in Dak Kanwar, special emphasis is given on completing the journey quickly. Devotees carrying Dak Kanwar travel several times in turns. When one devotee gets tired, the other devotee moves forward carrying the Ganges water. In this way an attempt is made to continue the journey continuously.
Why is there continuous travel in Dak Kanwar?
The biggest feature of Dak Kanwar is its fast and continuous nature. According to the belief, the devotees who take the pledge of Dak Kanwar want to reach their place within the stipulated time and perform Jalabhishek of Lord Shiva. For this reason many Kanwariyas travel in groups. Some people in the group rest while others keep moving forward. Due to this, the order of the journey is maintained and efforts are made to reach the Ganga water to the Shiva temple as soon as possible. Special vehicles for Dak Kanwar are also seen at many places. These vehicles are decorated with flowers, colorful lights and pictures of Lord Shiva.
What is the difference between Dak Kanwar and normal Kanwar?
In the normal Kanwar Yatra, devotees walk on foot carrying Ganga water and also stop on the way to rest. They proceed as per their convenience and travel plans. At the same time, in Dak Kanwar, the emphasis is on completing the journey in less time and taking the Ganga water to the Shiva temple as soon as possible. Many times, groups of devotees continue the journey one by one, so that the Ganges water can reach its destination faster. In this way, it can be said that the purpose of both the yatras is to offer Ganga water to Lord Shiva, but in Dak Kanwar, the speed and time of the yatra is given special importance.
Also read: Who first offered Ganga water and on which Shivling during the Kanwar Yatra?
Disclaimer: The information given in this news is based on religious beliefs and general information. TV9 Bharatvarsha does not confirm this.
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