The Kanwar Yatra to Baidyanathdham commences in the month of July and spans throughout the month, concluding in August. Devotees from various states in northern India embark on this pilgrimage by first collecting water from the holy Uttarvahini Ganga in Sultanganj, located in the Bhagalpur district of Bihar, which is approximately 108 kilometers away from Deoghar. Carrying the water in pots, known as Kanwar, the pilgrims then journey on foot to Deoghar to offer the sacred Ganga Jal to the Shivalinga. This pilgrimage is commonly referred to as Kanwar Yatra or Kanwariya Mela, and those who reach Baidyanath Dham without stopping are called Dak Bam, while those who make multiple stops along the way are called Bol Bam.
Every year, during the auspicious month of Shravan (July to August), an estimated 70 to 80 lakh (7 to 8 million) devotees from various parts of India visit Deoghar, traversing the distance barefoot, to offer Ganga Jal to Lord Shiva as a part of their Kanwar Yatra pilgrimage.