Wearing T-shirts depicting the images of Lord Siva and his consort goddess Parvathi, chanting ‘bol bam’ and carrying the stick tied with tiny pots of water, on both ends, collected from the natural water spring, Marwaris took part in the Kavad Yatra on Sunday.
Organised by Marwari Yuva Manch, the yatra began at Madhavadhara Siva temple. Passing through the lanes of Muralinagar, Thatichetlapalem, Railway New Colony, RTC Complex, Asilmetta and Siripuram, the procession came to a halt at Pandurangapuram Siva temple.
Many sported a yellow-orange stole that had ‘om’ and ‘Shiv’ letters written on it. Besides Marwaris, other communities including Odias, Biharis and Telugu people participated enthusiastically in the procession that lasted for over three hours.
“A decade ago, only a dozen people joined the procession. Today, the count touched 2,000,” said Naresh Agarwal, member of the Kavad Yatra organising committee.
The yatra, observed during the auspicious Shravan month, concluded with ‘abhishekam’ wherein the holy water drawn from Madhavadhara and carried on the ‘kavad’ was used.
Members of Marwari Yuva Manch said that the yatra, meant to worship Lord Siva, was taken out across the country during the Shravan month.