Kavad Yatra, annually observed in Shravan month (July - August), is going to
the Ganga River and bringing Ganga water back home to bathe the Shivling in
house or nearby temple. There are numerous stories regarding the origin of Kanwar Yatra. The most important story is associated with Samudra Manthan.
Parashuram And Kawad Yatra
The popular belief is that Parashuram performed the first
Kavad Yatra to perform Jalabhishek in Shravan month. Parashuram, the fifth
avatar of Lord Vishnu, was a devotee of Shiva.
Shravan Kumar in Treta Yug Performed Kanwar Yatra
Shravan Kumar is the young man who exhibited unparalleled
parental devotion in the epic Ramayan by carrying his blind parents on his
shoulders. He carried his parents on a Kavad to Haridwar to have holy dip in
the Ganga. The Kavad Yatra from interior village in North India to Haridwar
started after this divine incident.
Samudra Manthan And Kavad Yatra
During the Samudra Manthan, churning of ocean episode in the
Puranas, Halahala poison threatened to destroy the world. Shiva drank the
poison to save the universe. Devas, demigods, and saints poured Ganga water on
Shiva to cool him, and get rid of the effect of poison. This happened in the Shravan
month. People continue this ritual to get the blessings of Shiva.
Yet another story associated with Samudra Manthan state that
Shiva continued to emit negative energy after drinking the Halahala poison. To
cure Him, Ravana, the demon king in Ramayana, carried holy water from Ganga and
poured on him. The kavad yatra originated after this incident.