Why Millions Walk for Shiva: 3 Books That Explain the Kanwar Yatra

Every monsoon, the roads of North India come alive with a striking spectacle — thousands of saffron-clad pilgrims, barefoot or on bikes, journeying in devotion. These are the Kanwariyas, participants of the Kanwar Yatra, one of the largest annual religious pilgrimages in the world. As the month of Shravan (or Sawan) arrives in the Hindu calendar, these devotees set out to collect holy water from the Ganga in Haridwar, later offering it at Shiva temples in their hometowns.

Often dismissed as mere religious fervor or spectacle, the Kanwar Yatra is rooted in complex cultural, spiritual, and mythological traditions. In recent years, scholars and writers have turned their attention to understanding what drives millions to undertake this arduous journey. Here are three books that offer compelling insights into the Kanwar Yatra’s past, purpose, and growing influence.

1. Walking With Pilgrims by Ruma Bose
Ruma Bose, a London-based researcher, delves into what she calls “the oldest pilgrimage of its kind.” Her book explores the lesser-known Kunwar Tirtha tradition across Bihar, Jharkhand, and Nepal’s Terai region. She reveals how this version of the Yatra is steeped in local customs, community bonding, and ancestral devotion — far more layered than its more visible northern counterpart. Bose’s work sheds light on the deeper social and historical dimensions of pilgrimage.

2. Samudra Manthan by Tanmay Mehta
Illustrator and storyteller Tanmay Mehta takes readers back to mythology, where the origins of the Kanwar Yatra lie. In his graphic novel, he retells the story of Samudra Manthan — the cosmic churning of the ocean by gods and demons to retrieve the nectar of immortality. Mehta shows how Lord Shiva’s act of drinking the poison to save the world connects to the offering of Ganga water, making this book essential for understanding the Yatra’s symbolic core.

3. Hindu Pilgrimage by Sunita Pant Bansal
For those looking to place the Kanwar Yatra within a larger spiritual framework, Sunita Pant Bansal’s work is invaluable. She surveys major Hindu pilgrimages across India — from Chaar Dhaam to Jyotirlingams — and reflects on why such journeys, though not obligatory in Hinduism, remain profoundly significant. Her book, rich in photographs and crisp descriptions, positions the Kanwar Yatra as part of a timeless pursuit of inner transformation.

Together, these books offer a nuanced view of a pilgrimage that continues to evolve while staying deeply rooted in faith and tradition.