Prayagraj: In an age where most children are occupied with cartoons, toys, and games many kids have chosen a different path, one paved with devotion, determination and divine faith. Amid the ongoing kanwar yatra , it’s not just the adults chanting ‘Bol Bam’, but also young children who have become torchbearers of faith alongside their parents. Clad in saffron, their foreheads marked with chandan and sindoor, and barefoot, these little kanwariyas are walking miles in the scorching sun, carrying Ganga jal in plastic containers hung around their necks. Far from expressing discomfort or fear, their faces beam with spiritual enthusiasm as they chant, ‘Bol Bam ka naara hai, Baba tera sahaara hai’.At Dashashwamedh ghat, the presence of these young pilgrims is drawing both attention and admiration. The sight of children chanting prayers, participating in aarti, and performing rituals with unshakable faith reflects a powerful emotion—that devotion knows no age. A four-year-old child from Shringverpur Dham, Ram Shrish Bahubali, was seen immersed in the devotion of Lord Shiva on the banks of the Ganga at the place which is so closely associated with Lord Ram. On the second Monday of Shrawan, he made a ‘shivling’ from sand and offered prayers.In a similar instance, Aditya Kanojia, a Class 4 student, and his younger sister Saradhya, have accompanied their father Deepak Kanojia from Shahwabad, Varanasi. This is Aditya’s second kanwar yatra. “We bathed in the Ganga, prayed, and then shouted, ‘Bol Bam! Baba, we are coming to your door with Ganga water,” said Aditya with a proud smile. Their father explained, “This is my fifth yatra. I want my children to walk the path of dharma from a young age.” Similarly, Ravi Nishad from Jhunsi is walking the yatra with his 8-year-old son Samar and UKG student daughter Vidhi. Inspired by their father’s resolve, the children insisted on joining the spiritual journey, despite the long distance. “It might take 4 to 5 days to reach Varanasi, but they were determined,” said Ravi. When asked about the challenge of walking such a distance, he replied with faith, “Baba will take care of everything.” “These stories of little kanwariyas are not just heartwarming; they are a testament to how faith, when nurtured in childhood, blooms into courage and devotion. As these tiny feet tread the holy soil, they carry a message of hope, purity, and the timeless bond between generations and their shared spiritual heritage,” says Swami Hari Chaitanya Bhramchari of Tikar Mafi Ashram, Prayagraj and Amethi.
