Rajni Devi’s family from loni border of New Delhi has been bringing Kanwar for the past 10 years to the holy city. Her 15-year-old son also carries Kanwar along with her mother, keeping up with the same tradition. Her husband used to bring Kanwar but owing to amputated foot, Rajni brought the Kanwar this year. The reason — her wish was fulfilled. Her children were not surviving after birth and since the time her family started participating in Kanwar Yatra, the children are all hale and hearty.
Many like Rajni have been taking Kanwars to get their wish fulfilled. An estimated number of 10 lakh women and children have come to the holy city this year amongst 1.34 crore Kanwarias since 19 July, say the officials.
Karuna, another woman Kanwaria, had for the first time brought Kanwar to Haridwar in the year 2007. “My husband’s wish is my command,” says the middle- aged woman. “He has firm faith that if we bring Kanwar filled with Ganga jal to the local Shivalaya in Meerut, lord Shiva would bestow us with a home of our own. So I bring Kanwar every year,” she added.
Sakshi, 14-year-old, will not come next year since her wish was fulfilled this year. Kavita, 33 from Noida, was blessed with a baby girl and brought the three-month-old baby along with her to do the pilgrimage. It is a wish fulfilling pilgrimage.
Amongst these are some spirited women Kanwariyas as well who check the opium drinking male Kanwariyas. These women Kanwariyas fulfill their role of being mentors minding the spoilt boys who in the name of religion flaunt their own weaknesses and take to druhs.
When one Kanwaria from Haryana passing through Kanwar Patri Marg near Singh Dwar, Sonu reasoned that smoking sulfa (cannabis) was the Prasad (fruit of worship) of lord Shiva, a woman Kanwaria chided him, saying he was violating the rules and regulations of the devotional pilgrimage. Notably, during every Kanwar mela, there is business of intoxicating products and narcotic drugs like Charas, Ganja and Afeem to the tune of over `6 crores.