Kitemaker Mrityunjay Jain designs kawaars at his shop on Mahadev Road in Ara. Picture by Deepak Kumar

Many kanwariyas (pilgrims) on their way to Deoghar stop at the shop of one Mrityunjay Jain in Ara, around 60km west of Patna, to buy one of the most important articles they carry — kawaars.

Saffron-clad pilgrims, mostly from Bhojpur, crowd around the small shop on Mahadeva Road to purchase the kawaars — decorated bamboo sticks from which containers of Ganga water are hung.

Pilgrims collect water from the river at Sultanganj, 250km east of Patna, and carry it to Deoghar, around 100km away, to pour it on the Shiv lingam at Baidyanath Temple.

Jain, also a devotee of Shiv, supplies kawaars at reasonable prices, claim pilgrims.

“We get things at Jain’s shop at a cheap rate. He will never cheat us as he is also a devotee of Shiv,” said a villager from Pawar in the Sandesh area of the district.

A large number of pilgrims from neighbouring Buxar and Dumraon as well as Balia and Ghazipur in Uttar Pradesh also throng the Bhrameshwar Temple on the Bhojpur-Buxar border during this time of the year. They visit Jain’s shop as well to purchase the kawaars.

Bihiya (Ara) resident Sunil Jaiswal said: “There has been a general rise this year in the prices of articles that the kanwariyas carry. Last year, kawaars were available for Rs 100, but this year, one would have to cough up around Rs 400 for a decorated one. Jain, however, is providing the important article for our pilgrimage for around Rs 150.”

Jain, who also makes kites, claimed that he finds great pleasure in making kawaars during the month of Shravan.

“I have been making kawaars for the past 20 years. Many members of my family support me. We believe in providing quality kawaars to our customers. Many villagers want decorated items, and in this holy month (Shravan), I get great pleasure in making kawaars,” he said.

Asked about the increase in prices, Jain said: “The prices have gone up because of the decoration on the kawaars and also hike in the rate of bamboo. We purchase bamboo from Calcutta but the rates have gone up there too. I could have made a lot of money by selling kawaars at high prices. But I prefer selling them at reasonable prices to help the pilgrims. It gives me great pleasure.”