Jabalpur/ Bhopal, August 10, 2026

Chants of “Bol Bam” mixed with the beat of drums as a sea of Kanwariyas moved through Jabalpur on Monday, carrying the sacred waters of Maa Narmada for Lord Shiva. Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav joined the Sanskar Kanwar Yatra at Ranjhi, lifted a Kanwar on his shoulder, played the damru and walked alongside devotees.

According to an agency report, more than one lakh Kanwariyas joined the 35-km spiritual journey. Drone visuals showed long stretches of devotees moving through Jabalpur as the city’s roads turned into a stream of saffron, devotion and Shiva chants. Dr Yadav showered flower petals on the Kanwariyas before joining Dada Guru and other devotees on foot. Several public representatives also participated in the procession.

The Chief Minister compared the gathering to waves of an ocean. Wherever one looked, he said, Kanwariyas could be seen carrying Narmada water with their sadhana, devotion and resolve to offer it to Lord Shiva.

For Jabalpur, popularly known as Madhya Pradesh’s Sanskardhani, the journey has a distinct identity. Unlike the better-known Kanwar routes of northern India, where devotees largely collect Ganga water, the Jabalpur pilgrimage draws its spiritual strength from the Narmada. That relationship between the river, the devotee and Shiva gives the journey its local character.

Dr Yadav said the sacred Monday of Shravan had brought the blessings of Maa Narmada to the devotees. He described the Kanwariyas as carrying not merely water, but their faith and spiritual resolve. “Maa Narmada is also travelling with her devotees in the form of water,” he added.

The Chief Minister said he had witnessed many Kanwar Yatras, but the scale of the Jabalpur procession was remarkable. He described Shravan as a month devoted to Lord Shiva and said Sanatan culture teaches self-discipline and gives people strength to face challenges in life. The traditional belief connecting the Narmada with Shiva also found expression during the procession. “Narmada ke kankar-kankar mein Shankar”- Shiva resides in every stone of the Narmada, remains deeply rooted in popular faith across Madhya Pradesh.

Dr Yadav also underlined the state government’s focus on religious tourism. He said facilities were being strengthened for pilgrims taking part in religious journeys as well as at important places of worship. Referring to Dada Guru, the Chief Minister spoke about his spiritual discipline and deep association with the Narmada. He said saints remind society that life has a purpose beyond material needs and that devotion and discipline can show the way towards it.

Kanwar Yatras across India follow a simple but demanding tradition. Devotees collect water from a sacred river, carry it on their shoulders over long distances and finally perform Jalabhishek of Lord Shiva. The journey itself becomes an act of worship, with many Kanwariyas observing strict discipline along the way.

In Jabalpur on Monday, that devotion stretched across 35 kilometres. Drums kept pace with the Kanwariyas as chants of “Bol Bam” followed the procession along its route. Every Kanwar carried the same destination. Every step brought the devotees closer to their offering. And as the procession moved ahead, Maa Narmada travelled on the shoulders of her devotees towards Lord Shiva — turning a journey on foot into an expression of faith.