Prayagraj: With scores of devotees including kanwariyas seen at ghats and temples across the state, research and analysis conducted by social research institutes over the past few years indicate that the younger generation—specifically ‘Gen Z’—has emerged as a central figure in the kanwar yatra.While the month of Magh witnesses a massive surge of faith during the Magh Mela, the current month of Shrawan sees the chants of ‘Bol Bam’ by Lord Shiv devotees echoing across the Sangam and the banks of the Ganga. Sociologists and social research institutes studying the demographics—specifically the numbers and age groups—of kanwariyas during Shrawan have highlighted that Gen Z is now at the forefront of this pilgrimage.Director of the Govind Ballabh Pant Social Science Institute, Prof Yogendra Pratap Singh notes that the nature of religious events has changed rapidly over the last eight to nine years. Shifts in the priorities of the state govt have infused these religious gatherings with a festive spirit, increasing their appeal—a trend that has particularly captivated the younger generation.He, meanwhile, says “ The arrival of over 66.38 crore pilgrims for events like the Prayagraj Maha Kumbh serves as an indicator of this shift. Similar trends are visible in the Shrawan kanwar yatra, where Gen Z is participating in large numbers and leading the way.Head of the Sociology department at the University of Allahabad, Professor Ashish Saxena, explains that group psychology dictates that the system mirrors the nature of the ruling power. The state govt has integrated people from all castes into this practice through an inclusive approach and has incorporated elements of communication and technology. Consequently, the youth—who are deeply connected through modern communication channels—have stepped forward to take the lead.Government arrangements, the festive spirit, and the use of technology have transformed the nature of the kanwar yatra. Ram Pravesh Pandey, a ‘tirth purohit’ who has served at Dashashwamedh Ghat for two decades, notes that it is now primarily Lord Shiv devotees aged 15 to 35 who are visiting the ghats and display greater resolve and enthusiasm.Mukesh Kumar, a 25-year-old D.Pharma student from Mirzapur, is carrying water from the Sangam for the Yatra. For him, this is not merely an adventurous trip but an expression of a deeply held, long-standing faith.Nikhil Yadav, an ITI student, is also undertaking the Yatra with his friends—not with the mindset of a picnic, but driven by his own personal conviction.Meanwhile, On the second Monday (Somvar) of the holy month of Shrawan, large numbers of Lord Shiv devotees and Kanwariyas thronged local ghats and prominent temples to offer prayers and jalabhishek. Security and crowd management were intensified by local administration and police forces to handle the heavy surge of footfall at the city’s prominent temples. Devotees took holy dips at rivers and ghats and collected sacred water before heading to prominent shrines like Mankameshwar, Padila Mahadev, and Kashi Vishwanath.
