Uttar Pradesh: Thousands throng Lucknow Shiva temples on first Sawan Monday
Dressed in hues of red, orange and yellow, the devotees visited the Shiva temples amid chants of Har Har Mahadev and Bum Bum Bhole. Even sultry weather conditions in the city could not dampen their spirit.
One Deepak Agarwal with his wife Rani visited one of the Shiv temples to offer prayers. The duo said ever since they got married, they made it a point to visit Shiva temple daily for the entire month Sawan month.
At the Mankameshwar temple, women bought bangles, vermilion and mangalsutra. One of the devotees said it is considered auspicious to buy bangles and vermilion during Sawan.
'Every time I visit the temple, I feel connected to the divine power,' said one of the devotees at the At Mahakal temple here which resembles the renowned Ujjain temple.
The district administration has made all arrangements for the convenience and safety of the devotees. According to a police official, continuous patrolling was carried out on all the routes used by the Shiva devotees.
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Time of India
43 minutes ago
- Time of India
Kanwar yatra kitchen: Pure veg meals that fuel pilgrims safely
Every year during the month of Sawan, roads across North India fill with saffron-clad Kanwariyas walking long distances barefoot, carrying sacred Ganga jal for Lord Shiva. The journey is hard—marked by deep faith, strict routine, and a lot of physical effort. And what keeps them going besides faith is food. But not just any food—simple, sattvik, and comforting meals made with care at roadside kitchens known as bhandaras. These simple kitchens appear along highways, under flyovers, or next to fields, serving hot, filling vegetarian meals for free. The aim isn't fancy food, it's nourishment. The meals are made to give strength while staying light and easy to digest, which matters even more during the monsoon. Here's how this simple food keeps Kanwariyas going without making them feel too full or tired. Why purity matters here During the Kanwar Yatra, purity isn't just spiritual—it shows up on the plate too. Meals are strictly vegetarian, usually made without onion and garlic, and cooked in desi ghee or oil with devotion and care. Many pilgrims follow a brahmacharya lifestyle or eat a sattvik diet during this time, so the food matches that simplicity. You'll often find comforting dishes like aloo-tamatar sabzi, plain dal, jeera rice, rotis made over a woodfire, and sometimes kheer or halwa when there's a sweet touch. These aren't just comforting dishes—they're practical too. Light on spices and oil, yet filling enough to sustain hours of walking. Plus, no heavy cream or fried snacks means digestion stays smooth even in the monsoon humidity. Easy to cook, easy to serve Another reason this food works so well is because it's quick and easy to make in large quantities. One big pot of dal, a hot tawa full of rotis, and large buckets of sabzi can feed hundreds of pilgrims. It's the kind of food that brings people together—cooked by volunteers, served with folded hands, and eaten while sitting under a tent or tree. There's something deeply comforting about that simplicity. Here are three simple, sattvik-style dishes you can easily prepare at home: Aloo-tamatar ki sabzi This simple potato-tomato curry is commonly made during the Kanwar Yatra. Boiled potatoes are softly mashed and simmered in a tomato gravy flavoured with cumin, ginger, and gentle spices like turmeric and coriander powder. It's made without onion or garlic to keep it sattvik. The sabzi is light, slightly tangy, and pairs well with rotis or plain rice. Add some sendha namak (rock salt) if you're following vrat rules. Plain moong dal Split yellow moong dal is rinsed and pressure-cooked with water until it's soft. In a separate tadka, ghee is heated with cumin seeds, grated ginger, and a bit of hing (asafoetida), then poured over the dal. This gives the dish warmth and gentle flavour without overwhelming the stomach. It's comforting, easy to digest, and nourishing—perfect for monsoon days or when your digestion needs a break. Suji ka halwa Made with semolina, this is a quick sweet dish often served in bhandaras. Ghee is warmed in a pan and suji is slowly roasted until it turns golden and smells nutty. Water and jaggery or sugar are then added, and the mixture is stirred well until it becomes thick and shiny. A few cardamom pods add aroma, and some chopped nuts make it extra special. It's satisfying, wholesome, and gives an instant energy boost after a long walk or fast. Energy, hydration, and comfort in one plate कल से 23 जुलाई तक प्राइवेट और सरकारी स्कूल रहेंगे बंद These meals aren't just tasty—they're well planned. These meals aren't just about taste—they're made with intention. The mix of rice and dal offers good protein, sabzi brings in fibre, and a little sweet dish adds an instant lift. Even the lemon pickle served on the side has its place—it supports digestion and brings a gentle burst of freshness. With nearby stalls serving glucose water or nimbu-paani, the body stays cool and gets the hydration it needs during the journey. Faith meets food on the roadside The Kanwar Yatra isn't a time for luxury. It's about movement, devotion, and collective spirit. It shows how simple, home-style meals which is cooked with care and shared in community, can carry people through the toughest journeys. It's also a reminder for all of us to eat clean, sattvik food once in a while, to give our bodies the same kind of gentle strength and balance.
India.com
an hour ago
- India.com
Kanwar Yatra EXPLAINED: Mapping 210-km Delhi-Haridwar Route, 60 Million Devotees Expected Amidst Security & QR Code Controversy
Crores of saffron-robed pilgrims have started the month-long annual Kanwar Yatra, a religious yatra in honor of Lord Shiva, that started on July 11. With recitation of 'Har Har Mahadev' echoes, pilgrims are embarking on a spiritual odyssey, at times barefoot, to sacred shrines to fetch holy Ganga water to perform 'jalabhishek' rituals during the Hindu calendar month of 'Shravan'. This year, the Uttar Pradesh government is expecting a record 60 million pilgrims, among which seven million are women, to travel through the Kanwar Yatra route across the state. Delhi has also turned into an important transit point, with 15 to 20 lakh Kanwariyas passing through on their way to the holy Ganga ghats of Haridwar and Rishikesh. Charting the 210-km Devotional Route from Delhi to Haridwar The tiresome 210-kilometer road distance from Delhi to Haridwar and Rishikesh is broken by various authorized pitstops, which are well-provided with tents, medical camps, and restaurants to cater to the pilgrims. Partapur Village, Uttar Pradesh: Around 60 km from Delhi, this initial key stop has some five police tents, 15-20 devotee camps, and two to three medical camps, with a fire tender ready in case of any emergency. Modipuram, Uttar Pradesh: This 90 km distance from Delhi features in excess of a dozen camps and has over 500 police officers deployed. Khatauli and Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh: These are important stops before Uttarakhand. A notable Shiva temple in Muzaffarnagar is a very important point, according to reports, attracting more than one million Kanwariyas every year. "The yatra is not complete without a parikrama at the Shiv temple," head priest Harish Bhardwaj said in a report to Hindustan Times. Roorkee: The second last point before pilgrims arrive at Haridwar to fetch Ganga water. Some come back from Haridwar to their hometowns, while others go to Rishikesh to see the Neelkanth temple, which saw six lakh devotees last year on a single day. To provide a safe and hassle-free experience for the huge pilgrimage, the Uttar Pradesh government has launched a massive security drive. The drive involves deploying 587 gazetted officers, 2,040 inspectors, 13,520 sub-inspectors, and 39,965 constables of police and paramilitary personnel. Adding strength to this, 1,486 women sub-inspectors and 8,541 women constables are present on the ground supported by 50 companies of PAC and central forces and 1,424 home guards. Yatra Under Fire: Hooliganism, Traffic, and Controversial Directives Though rooted in religious sanctity, Kanwar Yatra has come under the spotlight of late with concerns about sporadic cases of hooliganism, vandalism, and blanket traffic snarls. Recently, a First Information Report (FIR) was registered after glass shards were found strewn on a Kanwar Yatra route in northeast Delhi's Dilshad Garden. Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena shared a video of the site on social media, confirming that the crime branch is investigating the matter to ascertain any malicious intent or communal angle. According to a report by Quint, the 2024 Kanwar Yatra witnessed at least 20 documented cases of violence. Adding to the complications are some directives issued by state governments, which have raised controversy and led to charges of religious profiling. The Uttar Pradesh government headed by Yogi Adityanath has ordered that restaurants and food stalls on the 540-km Kanwar yatra route stretching from Meerut to Muzaffarnagar should have a QR code displayed. The QR code is intended to bring forth important information like the identity of the owner, FSSAI license, reports of cleanliness, and vegetarian or non-vegetarian status of the food being offered. The Supreme Court of India has requested a response from the government of Uttar Pradesh on a petition against this order. This comes after a similar intervention last year, when the top court stayed similar orders issued by BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Madhya Pradesh governments, which had mandated restaurants along the Kanwar Yatra routes to display the names of their owners and workers publicly.
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Business Standard
4 hours ago
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UP schools to remain shut from 16 to 23 July due to Kanwar Yatra rush
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