The Kanwad pilgrimage, the biggest pilgrimage of north India, which started from July 27 on the auspicious occasion of Guru Purnima and would continue till August 15, saw thousands of the devotees of lord Shiva thronging Haridwar  since early Monday morning. All the temples are now appropriately decorated for Shravana, the month believed to be the dearest to lord Shiva.  However, the influx of the pilgrims is now on a downward curve thanks to the Panchak period which started from Sunday night. Nevertheless, the places around the fabled Har Ki Paidi are resounding with the chants of the devotees- 'Har Har Mahadev' and the Kanwad Patri Marg’, meant for the tread of the pilgrims, is seeing the footfalls of the devotees. They are all seen treading the path crying religious cry in praise of the lord, on their way to collect Gangajal which they would later pour down on the Shivalingas in the temples of their respective towns and villages.    

Notably, Panchak is a period of the constellation of five nakshatras-Dhanista, Shatbhisha, Purva Bhadrapada, Uttara Bhadrapada and Revati, something which is considered inauspicious for undertaking any religious journey or performing puja. During the time of this planetary constellation, the influx of the pilgrims to the holy city dwindles every year. Many of those who come from Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Rajasthan do not venture out on the pilgrimage till the period is over. Things would pick up again after August 3 when the Panchak ends.

Dwelling on the significance of the planetary constellation known as Panchak, a Jyotish acharya Dr Prateek Mishrapuri said while talking to The Pioneer that during the  Panchak period which  started at 5.06 pm on Sunday and would end at 2.25 pm on August 3, purchase of wooden or cane articles is considered inauspicious. Many pilgrims purchase it before the period starts, he added.

A Kanwad pilgrim from Rajasthan, Hari Sharan said that during the Panchak period, they take one meal a day and spend time in chanting lord Shiva's name. “We are halting for five days. We would resume pilgrimage after Panchak is over,” he said.

Radha, another pilgrim from Faridabad, said that this was her 11th pilgrimage to Haridwar. “We purchased all the articles required for the pilgrimage well before the Panchak period started,” she said.