New Delhi: Thousands of devotees across the country visited Lord Shiva temples on the first Sawan Somwar, marking the beginning of one of the most auspicious periods in the Hindu calendar. From the early hours of Monday, temples witnessed long queues as worshippers gathered to perform jalabhishek, offer prayers, and seek the blessings of Lord Shiva.
The holy month of Sawan, which began on July 30, will continue until August 28. Mondays during this period hold special religious significance, with devotees observing fasts and offering prayers for peace, prosperity, good health, and marital harmony.
Massive Rush at Kashi Vishwanath Temple
In Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi, thousands of devotees took a holy dip in the River Ganga before proceeding to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. The temple was decorated with flowers for the occasion, and worshippers participated in the Mangala Aarti before offering sacred water to the Shiva Lingam.
Despite the heavy turnout, devotees appreciated the arrangements made by the administration, saying the darshan process remained orderly and well-managed throughout the day.
Senior district officials and temple authorities also welcomed Kanwariyas and devotees by showering flower petals as they entered the temple premises.
Haridwar Witnesses Early Morning Devotion
A similar atmosphere of devotion prevailed at the Daksha Mahadev Temple in Kankhal, Haridwar, where devotees began arriving before dawn. The ancient shrine, believed to be associated with Lord Shiva’s in-laws’ home, holds special importance during the month of Sawan.
Temple priests explained that devotees consider this shrine especially sacred during Shravan and believe prayers offered here are fulfilled by Lord Shiva. Long queues continued throughout the day as pilgrims performed rituals amid Vedic chants.
Baba Baidyanath Temple Draws Large Crowds
In Deoghar, the revered Baba Baidyanath Temple also witnessed an overwhelming influx of devotees on the first Monday of Sawan. Pilgrims from different parts of the country gathered to offer prayers and perform traditional rituals.
Many worshippers expressed satisfaction with the arrangements made for crowd management despite the large number of visitors. Several devotees described their visit as a spiritually fulfilling experience and praised the administration for ensuring smooth movement inside the temple complex.
Month of Faith and Spiritual Observance
The month of Sawan is regarded as one of the holiest periods dedicated to Lord Shiva. Devotees observe fasts, perform special prayers, chant Shiva mantras, and undertake pilgrimages throughout the month. Mondays, known as Sawan Somwars, are considered particularly auspicious, attracting millions of worshippers to Shiva temples across India.
With the festive season now underway, authorities at major pilgrimage centres have strengthened security and crowd-management measures to accommodate the large influx of devotees expected over the remaining Mondays of the sacred month.
