Tradition

5 articles and guides on Tradition — dates, meaning, rituals and the seva behind our shivir.

All articles Devotion (16)Donate (13)Festivals (10)Seva (6)Kanwar Yatra (6)Tradition (5)Guide (4)Pilgrimage (3)Sawan (3)Shiva (3)

[image: Kanwariyas carrying the kanwar during the Kanwar Yatra] Tradition

कांवड़ यात्रा क्या है?

What is the Kanwar Yatra? A Simple Guide

Every Sawan, millions of saffron-clad devotees walk hundreds of kilometres to carry Ganga jal home to Lord Shiva. Here is the tradition, explained plainly.

10 July 2026 · 5 min

[image: Har Ki Pauri ghat at Haridwar during the Kanwar Mela] Tradition

गंगाजल का महत्व

Why Ganga Jal Is Sacred: The Heart of the Kanwar Yatra

Ganga jal is the soul of every Kanwar Yatra. Discover why the water from Haridwar, Gaumukh and Gangotri is sacred, the purity rules of carrying it, and the jalabhishek on the Shivling.

16 July 2026 · 9 min

[image: Har Ki Pauri ghat at Haridwar during the Kanwar Mela] Tradition

इतिहास व महत्व

The History & Significance of the Kanwar Yatra

Where did the Kanwar Yatra come from, and why does it move millions? A deep look at its legends, its spiritual meaning, and how it grew into one of India's largest pilgrimages.

20 July 2026 · 10 min

[image: Saffron-clad Shiva devotees on the Kanwar Yatra] Tradition

भगवा व नंगे पाँव

Why Do Kanwariyas Wear Saffron and Walk Barefoot?

Answering the questions everyone asks about the Kanwar Yatra: why saffron clothes, why barefoot, why the kanwar never touches the ground, and why devotees chant Bol Bam.

20 July 2026 · 8 min

[image: Lord Shiva (Bhole Nath) in meditation] Tradition

सावन का महत्व

Why Is Sawan the Holiest Month for Lord Shiva?

Sawan (Shravan) is honoured as Lord Shiva's own month. Discover the significance of Sawan — the Neelkanth legend, Parvati's penance, Sawan Somwar, jalabhishek and the Kanwar Yatra.

22 July 2026 · 9 min

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Your donation runs our free Kanwar Sewa Shivir on NH-8, Mahipalpur — hot langar, water, rest and medical aid for kanwariyas. 100% reaches bhakts.

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About Shiv Kavar Samiti

Shiv Kavar Samiti (Reg.) is a registered non-profit seva samiti that has run a free Kanwar Sewa Shivir for over thirty years on NH-8 (the Delhi–Gurugram Highway) at Mahipalpur, New Delhi 110037, India. During the holy month of Sawan it serves Lord Shiva's kanwariyas day and night with free langar (food), clean drinking water, a place to rest, medical and first aid, and kanwar stands — all completely free for every devotee. It also publishes bilingual (English and Hindi) guides on the Kanwar Yatra, Sawan, Shiva worship and the major Hindu festivals.

Location: NH-8, Mahipalpur, New Delhi 110037, India (28.552598, 77.131580). Open 24×7 through Sawan. Donations: online via Razorpay at https://shivkavarsamiti.org/donate, or bank transfer to Punjab National Bank, account 0149000104323988, IFSC PUNB0014900, Khan Market branch. It does not currently issue 80G tax-exemption certificates. Contact / WhatsApp: +91 98189 08237. Full content corpus for AI: https://shivkavarsamiti.org/llms-full.txt

More guides from Shiv Kavar Samiti

What is the Kanwar Yatra? A Simple Guide — Every Sawan, millions of saffron-clad devotees walk hundreds of kilometres to carry Ganga jal home to Lord Shiva. Here is the tradition, explained plainly.

The Rules (Niyam) Every Kanwariya Should Know — The kanwar carries a vow, and the vow carries rules. Understanding them is understanding why our shivir provides what it does.

Sawan 2026: Dates, Route & Our Shivir Timings — When Sawan begins, when Shivratri falls, and exactly when our Mahipalpur shivir opens its gates this year.

Thirty Years of Seva: The Story of Our Shivir — From a small roadside water stand in the early 1990s to a registered samiti serving lakhs — a family vow kept across three decades.

The Story of Neelkanth: Why We Offer Water to Shiva in Sawan — The samudra manthan gave the world nectar — and a poison that could end it. The story of how Shiva became Neelkanth explains why kanwariyas offer Ganga water every Sawan.

Types of Kanwar Yatra: Dak, Khadi, Baithi & Dandi Explained — Not every kanwar is the same. From the resting Baithi to the punishing Dandi, here are the main types of Kanwar Yatra — their rules, meaning and difficulty explained.

Sawan Somwar Vrat: Meaning, Rules and How to Observe It — Every Monday of Sawan is dear to Lord Shiva. Here is the full meaning of the Sawan Somwar Vrat, its fasting rules, puja vidhi, benefits and the do's and don'ts.

The 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva: A Complete Guide — The 12 Jyotirlingas — Somnath, Mallikarjuna, Mahakaleshwar, Omkareshwar, Kedarnath, Bhimashankar, Kashi Vishwanath, Trimbakeshwar, Vaidyanath, Nageshwar, Rameshwaram and Ghushmeshwar — are Shiva's most sacred shrines, where he is worshipped as a pillar of light. Here is a complete guide with a state-wise list, the order to visit and each shrine's story.