New Delhi, Aug 24 (IANS) Thousands of devotees across several parts of the country thronged prominent Shiva temples on the final Monday of the holy month of Sawan, seeking the blessings of Lord Shiva and performing Jal Abhishek and special prayers.
From Varanasi and Ujjain to Puri, temples witnessed large gatherings of devotees, with elaborate arrangements made to manage the crowds.
In Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, a large number of devotees gathered at the Kashi Vishwanath Dham from the early hours of Monday.
Devotees from different parts of the country arrived to offer prayers to Baba Vishwanath. Long queues were seen as pilgrims waited for their turn to enter the temple and perform rituals. The temple complex was beautifully decorated with rudraksha and flowers, adding to the festive and devotional atmosphere.
Varanasi District Magistrate Satyendra Kumar said that a large number of devotees were visiting Shiva temples for Jal Abhishek. “Despite it being only 5 AM, more than 60,000 devotees had already taken darshan at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple,” he said, highlighting the massive turnout on the final Monday of Sawan.
In Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, devotees gathered at the Mahakaleshwar Temple to participate in the special rituals.
One devotee said, “The final Monday of Sawan is particularly significant for me as I had the opportunity to witness the Bhasma Aarti of Mahakal early in the morning.”
In Etah, Uttar Pradesh, a large gathering was witnessed at the Kailash Temple, where devotees offered jal (water) to Lord Shiva and performed prayers.
In Ahmedabad, Gujarat, devotees assembled at a Shiva temple in Sardarnagar for special prayers during Sawan. A Rudrabhishek ceremony was also organised, with devotees participating in the sacred rituals.
In Muzaffarpur, Bihar, Baba Garib Nath Dham witnessed a major congregation as devotees arrived to offer water to Lord Shiva on the final Monday of Sawan.
Meanwhile, in Buxar, Bihar, District Magistrate Sahila and Superintendent of Police Shubham Arya inspected arrangements along the Kanwariya route from Ramrekha Ghat to Baba Brahmeshwar Nath Temple. They also offered prayers at the shrine.
A devotee said that people from across Buxar had gathered with their wishes and were standing in long queues for Jal Abhishek at Baba Brahmeshwar Nath.
In Puri, Odisha, thousands of Kanwariya devotees visited the Mahaprabhu Sri Jagannath Temple on the last Monday of Sawan. The Dwara Phita Niti, marking the opening of the temple doors, was performed amid the devotional atmosphere.
The final Monday of Sawan holds special religious significance for devotees of Lord Shiva. Across the country, temples witnessed chants, prayers, Jal Abhishek and special rituals as devotees marked the auspicious conclusion of the holy month with faith and devotion.
–IANS
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