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Indian Express
17-07-2025
- Indian Express
Why millions join the Kanwar Yatra: 3 books that decode the monsoon pilgrimage
Come the monsoon month of Shravan (also known as Savan), it is common to spot groups of saffron-clad young men moving together along roads in vibrant processions. Some walk barefoot, others ride bikes or perch on the backs of trucks. If the procession is outgoing, they are seen carrying bamboo poles on their shoulders, with two pots suspended at either end. These are the Kanwariyas. The annual pilgrimage, known as the Kanwar Yatra, begins weeks before the new moon (Amavasya) of the month. Pilgrims travel to the holy city of Haridwar to collect water from the Ganga and then return to their native towns and villages across India, where they offer the sacred water to local Shiva shrines. In recent years, the Kanwar Yatra has attracted scholarly interest due to its increasing scale and cultural significance. These three books delve into the yatra's roots, purpose, and growing popularity: Sociologist Vikash Singh, a professor at Montclair State University, immerses himself in the Kanwar Yatra to explore a key question: why has participation in the pilgrimage grown from a few thousand in the 1980s to over 12 million by 2011? Singh finds that many of the pilgrims are marginalised men, left behind by India's economic transformation. The Yatra becomes, for them, a space of expression and affirmation. It is a means to cope with modern anxieties. Often indulging in bhang and other substances along the way, they find kinship in Lord Shiva. As Singh sees it, the Kanwar Yatra is not a mere annual pilgrimage, it is a form of moral protest. Why do people go on pilgrimages? What deeper social functions do these journeys serve? London-based researcher Ruma Bose answers these questions while she examines the older, more complex version of the Kanwar Yatra known as the Kunwar Tirtha, observed in Bihar, Jharkhand, and the eastern Terai of Nepal. She calls it 'the oldest pilgrimage of its kind.' To fully grasp the origins of the Kanwar Yatra, one must return to its mythological roots, which lie in the story of Samudra Manthan, or the churning of the cosmic ocean. This myth, which features gods and demons uniting in their quest for amrit (nectar of immortality), explains how the sacred Ganga water and Lord Shiva became central to this annual ritual. Author and illustrator Tanmay Mehta brings this tale to life in a stunning graphic novel that blends traditional Indian art with contemporary comic-book aesthetics.
The Hindu
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Savan Kotecha on new boy band ‘OutStation', working on Ed Sheeran's ‘Sapphire', and more
What does it take to put together a boy band in India? Following a nation-wide talent hunt that stretched across months, thousands of auditions and an extensive bootcamp, international record producer and songwriter Savan Kotecha, who has worked with a range of artistes, including Ariana Grande, The Weeknd, One Direction and more recently, on Ed Sheeran's smash hit 'Sapphire', might have just cracked the code. Savan's imprint label Visva Records India, in partnership with Republic Records and Universal Music India, is launching India's newest boy band, OutStation, comprising Bhuvan Shetty, 22, from Udupi; Hemang Singh, 20, from Prayagraj; Mashaal Shaikh, 21, from Goa; Kurien Sebastian, 20, a Malayali from Delhi; and Shayan Pattem, 17, an army kid from Hyderabad. An Indian-American of Gujarati origin who is a 17-time Grammy nominee, Savan is clear about the audience he is catering to. 'OutStation will be a big leap for the country's youth who feel they need more representation out there. Having travelled to India quite a bit, I also felt that the non-film music business felt very city-centric and we were keen on expanding our search through the country,' he says. In February earlier this year, applications were invited online for youngsters interested in being a part of the group. The final five members were chosen from a shortlist of 12 who were put through an intense bootcamp in Goa. 'It was important that our final group was not just musically talented, but also had chemistry. They all have something special about them, which includes wonderful stories about where they're from,' Savan adds. Given the number of global music superstars who start out young and build muscle along the way, choosing these members young too was a conscious decision. 'This felt like an investment for the future, and most importantly, inspiring other kids from the country to also feel like they have a chance to represent India,' Savan says. The musician is keen on making OutStation 'India's band'. 'India deserves a great homegrown band. Many international songwriters and artistes who I have worked with have reached out to me showing interest, but for now, I really am excited to have OutStation getting started in the studio over the next few months with some of the best songwriters from the country. I think authenticity is also extremely important, and you can expect to see them singing in Hindi and their local languages,' he says. While they will dabble in pop music, the band has no set direction, Savan says, to avoid coming off as 'manufactured'. 'For instance, if a member is not a natural dancer, it is fine. They do not have to do that,' he laughs. OutStation's launch is the cherry on top for Savan's already fantastic last couple of weeks. He co-wrote and co-produced Ed Sheeran's 'Azizam' and 'Sapphire' which has been trending on music charts across the world. 'Sapphire' in particular has taken India by storm, something he is thrilled and says feels like the first step for much more to come. 'Working on 'Sapphire' came to me at the right time, in my life and career. Ed is so open to exploring different cultures and rhythms, and not just in a 'oh this is a fun sample' way. He was actually keen on spending time in India, wanting to meet everybody and collaborate with them,' he says. Savan recalls how Ed Sheeran spent weeks recording the best musicians — tabla, dhol and sitar players for instance. 'All of this came together in such an organic way, and nothing feels forced. I also think Arjit Singh, who collaborated on the song, is probably one of the greatest vocalists of all time and and I'm so happy that there will be a new version of 'Sapphire' coming out, with a lot more Arijit in it,' he adds. Nominated for an Academy Award for a song he co-wrote, 'Husavik' from the film Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga, Savan's work in films more recently includes the Anne Hathaway-Nicholas Galitzine film The Idea of You where he co-wrote songs for the fictional band August Moon. With Netflix's recent smash hit animated film K-pop Demon Hunters however, Savan took on a different opportunity — not of songwriting or producing, but of this being the first massive global release by his label, Visva Records. 'I remember watching and loving a rough cut of K-pop Demon Hunters, hearing the music, and then deciding to take a shot and put it on my record label. I am so happy to just be a small player here, and to see how the songs have connected with people across ages' he says, of the massive success of the film and the music. With pop music buzzing like never before globally, Savan has big plans for youngsters who love music in India. He says, 'Instead of a western artiste, It is time we see posters of our homegrown bands and musicians on their walls.'
Hindustan Times
20-06-2025
- Hindustan Times
Delhi home minister reviews preparations ahead of Kanwar Yatra
Delhi home minister Ashish Sood on Thursday held a meeting to review preparations for the Kanwar Yatra that begins next month. Sood said that Kanwar organising committees will be provided with all necessary administrative support at a single window system. 'A single-window system will be set up at the district magistrate offices to facilitate approvals and permissions from various departments in a streamlined manner. The safety, service, and convenience of hundreds of thousands of devotees entering Delhi during the yatra will be a top priority,' he added. The Kanwar Yatra is a religious tradition where millions of devotees collect water from the Ganga at Haridwar, Gangotri and other sacred places to offer at Shiva temples in the month of Savan. Every year, thousands of kanwars pass through Delhi en route to other states. Sood said all departments have been directed to ensure that pilgrims face no inconvenience on their designated routes. 'Arrangements related to sanitation, drinking water, uninterrupted electricity supply, and traffic management will be made in a timely, coordinated, and effective manner. We have instructed power department officials to ensure that any issues related to electricity disruptions or leakage risks during rains are addressed promptly during the Yatra days,' he added. The meeting was held with representatives of the fire services department, police, Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board, power department and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. Sood also directed police to monitor sound systems in camps located near residential areas and ensure that devotional songs played over loudspeakers are limited to permitted hours to avoid disturbing local residents. Police personnel have been asked to politely request pilgrims to avoid playing loud music late at night. Coordination with police forces of neighbouring states has also been advised to ensure the safety and welfare of pilgrims. The Delhi Fire Services has been asked to prepare a plan for deploying small fire tenders near Kanwar camps to respond quickly in case of fire-related emergencies and prevent any mishaps.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Farmers devastated as once-reliable harvests spiral into uncertainty: 'I'm worried about it lasting to the next generation'
As scientific consensus has been telling us for decades, human activity is leading to increasing global temperatures and changing our everyday life — now even affecting our favorite flavors. According to one recent study, whether in your cup in the morning or your ice cream at night, a pantry staple is under threat as vanilla bean farmers on the front lines of changing growing conditions struggle to adapt to heat, drought, and extreme weather. In the northwest Sava region of Madagascar, where as much as 80% of the world's (delicate) vanilla beans are produced, farmers are concerned for the future of the flavorful bean and their families due to worsening growing seasons and chaotic climate conditions. Over 90% of Savan farmers have reported increases in temperature and decreases in rainfall over just the past five years, which they say make it more difficult to farm, according to a recent study by researchers at Duke University and Madagascar's University of Antananarivo. One fruit farmer said the traditional start of harvesting has shifted more than a month from the traditional November season, according to a summary of the study posted to Another, meanwhile, said they're concerned about relying on their rice paddy in the coming years. "I am worried about it lasting to the next generation," she said, according to the researchers' summary. Data from 15 weather stations across Madagascar show that average temperatures have grown warmer over the past 50 years, while at the same time average precipitation has decreased. "It is a serious problem that many farmers worldwide are facing, particularly in tropical areas," said study co-author and Duke professor Randall Kramer. But small-scale farmers — who produce a third of the world's food supply — are particularly vulnerable, he added. Farmers in Madagascar already face numerous risks. Most are no strangers to cyclones and tropical storms, sometimes forcing families to relocate or flee their homes. And making crops harder to get to market and the world. With planting seasons already under pressure, Savan vanilla farmers are struggling to keep up with climate shifts — leaving them with lower crop yields and more pests, heat waves, and rainfall unpredictability. Do you worry about how much food you throw away? Definitely Sometimes Not really Never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. "Farmers are going to have to be more flexible, more resourceful, and take more risks," Kramer said. "That's really problematic when the success of your farm in a particular year determines if your family goes hungry or not." Adapting practices such as adding fruit trees to fields or raising fish in flooded rice paddies to combat these climate changes "could improve food security, but also help with fertilization and pest control," said study co-author Voahangy Soarimalala, president of Madagascar's Vahatra Association and curator at the University of Antananarivo. Beyond the initial study, the university groups intend to expand further studies across 34 villages in the region to understand farmers' experiences across a wider range of habitats, and their experience with mitigation attempts to better understand the scope of the problem. The best thing individuals can do about the effects of climate change is to try to reduce their carbon pollution levels to help cool down the planet. Relying more on locally grown produce — even better when growing your own — or increasing electric efficiency at home or on the road can make a huge difference to your life and others. Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
