Dehradun, July 24, 2013: The Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand was ill-starred this year, but will hopefully be restarted  in the near future. The Government is ensuring that with the arrival of Kanwadias in the State following the beginning of  ‘Saawan’, the Kanwad yatra is safe and successful. These Shiva devotees head for the picturesque ‘Neelkanth Mahadev’ shrine in the Pauri district of Uttarakhand.

Raising cries of Bam Bam Bholey while performing the pooja which is performed specially during ‘Shrawan’ (Saawan), crowds of devotees, including a large number of Kanwadias, have begun moving towards the Neelkanth Mahadev shrine which is a scenic trek from the Swaragshram area across the Ram Jhoola at Rishikesh.

Buses are also easily available from Rishikesh to go upto this ancient shrine. Shiva devotees can be seen in large numbers in the Doon valley while on their way to Rishikesh, Haridwar and Neelkanth.

The Neelkanth Mahadev yatra begins in the month of ‘Saawan’ and culminates on the Shrawan Shivratri. Neeknath is around 20 kilometres from Rishikesh and is located at a height of 1,675 metres. Over 30 lakh Shiva devotees visit the shrine every year. The Neelkanth yatra is an extension of the Kanwad yatra and melas which begin with the arrival of Saawan too. Amid the rains, the yatra carries on with infectious fervour of the devotees, making it an extremely colourful and exciting event in the cultural calendar of the hill State. By mid-August, the area begins wearing quite a deserted look as the Shiva devotees move back to their homes.

Hundreds of devotees reach Neelkanth everyday, after traversing long distances on foot, carrying colourful earthern kanwads with Gangajal in them, to offer homage to Lord Shiva who is worshipped at Neelkanth as the ‘blue throated’ god. After having drunk off the poison which was thrown up after the Samudra Manthan, Shiva is believed to have

meditated for several thousand years at this spot.

Neelkanth yatris participate in the mela orgainsed every year at Hardwar. Known as the ‘Kanwad Mela’, the wares available at this fair include saffron cloth, attractive ‘Kanwads’, posters of the shrines in the region, copper and bronze items, music cassettes and CDs of religious songs, sweets and other eatables.

Till mid-August, ‘kanwadias’ will move around in several parts of the hill State, collecting ‘Gangajal’ and performing poojas at various Shiva shrines in the region. Neelkanth Mahadev is an ancient temple situated on a hill above Swarg Ashram. It stands adjacent to the mountain ranges of Nar-Narayan.

Enveloped between the valleys of Manikoot, Brahmakoot and Vishnukoot, it lies on the confluence of Pankaja and Madhumati, two perennial rivers. The shrine is surrounded by scenic dense forests. The 12-km stretch from Swargashram to Neelkanth is ideal for trekkers. The place, other than being known for the holy shrine, is also famous for being a picturesque site and an amazing landmark, surrounded by valleys, mountains, forests and rivers.

The temple has an ancient architecture and a beautiful complex, comprising a one natural spring where devotees take a holy bath before entering the premises of the shrine. The temple is adorned with sculptures of various Devas and Asuras depicting the Samudramanthan Neelkanth Mahdev in the form of a Shivalingam is the presiding deity of the temple, kept in the  ‘sanctum sanctorum’.

Devotees at Neelkanth Mahadev make an offering of coconut, flowers, milk, honey, fruits and water to the Lord and get Prasad, the holy gift from God, in forms of vibhuti (ashes), chandan (sandal-wood) and other holy things from the shrine. There is a special aura about the temple, which fills devotional hearts with celestial pleasure.

The largest number of devotees reach the shrine during Saawan Shivrati. Its legendary ambience, combined with its picturesque surroundings of forests and rivers makes it an ideal destination for a nature lover too. A large number of foreigners who visit Rishikesh and Swargashram make it a point to trek upto this beautiful hilltop home of the ‘Blue Throated Shiva’.

Source: The Pioneer, Dt: July 24, 2013