The month of Shravan in the Hindu calendar is a time when devotees of Lord Shiva (Bholenath) perform religious rituals, prayers, and *abhishek* (ritual bathing of the deity) with holy water from the Ganges to please Him. The sacred Kanwar Yatra, undertaken to appease Bholenath, also commences during this month. Every year, with the onset of the month of Shravan (also known as Sawan), devotees collect water from the Ganges and undertake a journey of hundreds of kilometers on foot; by performing *abhishek* on Bholenath with this water, they fulfill their vows. It is believed that simply by lifting the *Kanwar* (a bamboo pole with containers for holy water), Bholenath grants all wishes—even those left unspoken. In North India, hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from various states carry Ganges water from Haridwar and offer it at Shiva temples in accordance with their vows.

**When is the *Udaya Tithi* (Sunrise Tithi)?**
In 2026, the formal commencement of the Kanwar Yatra will take place on *Pratipada* (the first day) of the *Krishna Paksha* (waning phase of the moon) of Shravan. Pandit Shridhar Shastri, an astrologer from Haridwar, told *Local 18* that the month of Shravan in 2026 will begin at 8:06 PM on Wednesday, July 29. The *Udaya Tithi* of *Pratipada* of the Shravan *Krishna Paksha* falls on Thursday, July 30. The Kanwar Yatra dedicated to Lord Shiva will formally begin on this day and continue until the *Trayodashi Tithi* (13th day) of the Shravan *Krishna Paksha*. Devotees can begin their Kanwar Yatra by collecting the water according to their respective vows.

**When will the offering of water begin?**
Pandit Shridhar Shastri explains that starting Thursday, July 30, devotees will begin their journey carrying the water on their shoulders and will start offering it to Bholenath after 8:00 PM on August 10. According to the *Panchang* (Hindu almanac), due to the omission (*kshaya*) of the *Trayodashi Tithi* in the Shravan *Krishna Paksha*, the offering of Ganges water will commence on August 11. The pilgrimage concludes with the *abhishek* of Bholenath using the Ganges water on the *Trayodashi Tithi*. 

Every year, hundreds of thousands of Shiva devotees begin their journey after taking a holy dip in the Ganges at Haridwar and travel hundreds of kilometers to please Bholenath. The holy city of Haridwar reverberates with chants dedicated to Lord Bholenath—such as "Bol-Bam," "Bam-Bam," and "Har Har Mahadev"—as everyone becomes immersed in devotion to Him. A similar atmosphere will be witnessed this time as well.

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