No. of women kanwariyas doing all rituals goes up this Shrawan

Prayagraj: This Shrawan, the number of women kanwariyas has gone up manifold who are arriving at Dashashwamedh, Daraganj and adjoining ghats to get holy water from Ganga before taking up their journey to Lord Shiva temples. Interestingly, women Kanwariyas of all age groups – majority of between 18 to 45 years – who travelled from different villages of trans-Ganga and Yamuna and adjoining Pratapgarh and Kaushambi are taking part in the yatra enthusiastically.Majority of them are with their family members.
Cops too claimed that number of women kanwariyas – arriving banks of Ganga from far flung villages to fetch holy water from Ganga and Sangam - has too gone up.
ACP (Jhunsi) Chirag Jain told TOI, “Friday witnessed additional rush of devotees on the banks of Ganga when both men and women kanwariayas arrived from different states and districts to get holy water”. He, however, admitted that the number of women kanwariyas has unquestionably gone up compared to previous year. He added, “Ahead of second somvar during the ongoing Shrawan month, the number of kanwariyas has gone up on Friday and adequate security arrangement are in place”.
Chanting ‘Shiva Mool Mantra’, ‘Rudraastak Stotram’, ‘Shiv Shankar Stotra’, and ‘Shiv Tandav Stotra’, groups of women both married and unmarried strongly believe that chanting these mantras not only brings peace to one’s mind but also offers energy. It also takes away all sins and curses.
Driven by devotion & dedication to offer obeisance to Lord Shiva at Padila Mahadev temple in Tharwai and Kashi Vishwanath in Varanasi, women Kawariyas feel thrilled and energetic and invite others to join the religious journey at ongoing month of Shrawan.
After collecting holy water from Sangam, women devotees carrying decorated kanwars walk bare foot to offer Jalabhishek to Lord Shiva. Women devotees believe that they are competent enough to follow the rituals and custom (carrying Kanwar on their shoulders) as their male counterparts perform. “For the last five years, many women have been carrying kanwars on their shoulders to offer Jalabhishek to Lord Shiva in every Shrawan,” said Namita, a woman kanwariya from Meja adding “More women are joining the journey in coming days she added”.
Another woman devotee, Radha, walking with her brother says, “After being encouraged by elderly people of my family, I too decided to be a kanwar this year”. Religious scholar Amitabh Gour says, “It’s a matter of faith and devotion. Both men and women become kanwariyas as they are well aware of mythological significance of Jalabhishek during the holy month of Shrawan.”