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The Kavadias begin their mega trek

C. K. Chandramohan

Enhanced vigil along the way in the wake of the serial blasts in Mumbai and Srinagar

A file picture of Kavadias on the move.

HARDWAR: The annual mega trek of colourfully dressed "kavadias" carrying Ganga water from Hardwar to the ancient Pura Mahadev temple in Baghpat and the Augharnath temple in Meerut or the Shivalaya of their choice began on Wednesday amid enhanced vigil in the wake of the serial blasts in Mumbai and Srinagar.

Special vigil has been ordered by the Uttar Pradesh and Uttaranchal governments along the yatra route to ensure that the trek, in which over 20 lakh kavadias will participate over the next ten days, passes off peacefully. "We have deployed all measures to check terrorist attacks and the `kavadias' and others along the route have been advised to be vigilant against disruptive forces and not get drawn away by rumours. The pilgrims are also advised not to touch any unidentified object or eat anything offered by strangers," a senior Home Department official said here.

The Kavad Mela begins with the onset of "Sawan" in which the devout carry holy water from the Ganga at Hardwar or from Gaumukh to the Augharnath temple, Pura Mahadev or the Shivalaya in their village before or after Lord Shiva fulfils their wish to perform "jal abhishek" on Shivratri that falls on July 23 this time.

The kavadias hail from as far as Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and all over western Uttar Pradesh. The Ganga ghats and the route they take echo with holy chants of Har Har Mahadev, Bam Bam Bholey and hymns. The scene on the Hardwar-Meerut highway will be worth seeing after a few days as lakhs of kavadias of all age groups inch their way to the Shivalaya of their choice. The Administration will divert road traffic over the period to by-passes along the highway to avoid mishaps as the kavadias take over the entire road stretch.

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