Uttar Pradesh: Thousands throng Lucknow Shiva temples on first Sawan Monday
Dressed in hues of red, orange and yellow, the devotees visited the Shiva temples amid chants of Har Har Mahadev and Bum Bum Bhole. Even sultry weather conditions in the city could not dampen their spirit.
One Deepak Agarwal with his wife Rani visited one of the Shiv temples to offer prayers. The duo said ever since they got married, they made it a point to visit Shiva temple daily for the entire month Sawan month.
At the Mankameshwar temple, women bought bangles, vermilion and mangalsutra. One of the devotees said it is considered auspicious to buy bangles and vermilion during Sawan.
'Every time I visit the temple, I feel connected to the divine power,' said one of the devotees at the At Mahakal temple here which resembles the renowned Ujjain temple.
The district administration has made all arrangements for the convenience and safety of the devotees. According to a police official, continuous patrolling was carried out on all the routes used by the Shiva devotees.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Deccan Herald
2 hours ago
- Deccan Herald
Kanwar Yatra: Tight security, traffic curbs in Delhi-NCR
The Kanwar Yatra sees the participation of lakhs of devotees every year who travel mostly on foot from Haridwar to their local Shiva temples, carrying holy water from the Ganga to offer on Shivlingas.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Govt plans to transform Sambhal into Hindu pilgrimage hub
Meerut: In the aftermath of the Nov 24, 2024 violence near Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal during a court-directed survey — which left five dead — the UP govt has been putting its focus toward reshaping the city's religious and cultural identity. It has approved a Rs 7 crore plan to revamp religious sites in the district, with Rs 3 crore earmarked specifically for the beautification of the Kalki Dham temple. The district administration has also begun groundwork to transform Sambhal into a major Hindu religious tourism hub, prioritising the redevelopment of several ancient or previously inaccessible sites. Sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Vikas Chandra recently visited key sites including Shankh Madhav Teerth, Rishikesh Mahakoop, Mrityu Koop, and the Kalki Temple, inspecting the premises and directing the preparation of development blueprints. Plans for the Kalki Temple include a grand circumambulatory path, devotional wall art, manicured gardens, seating areas for pilgrims, and a statue of Lord Kalki's divine horse—all to be funded under the temple's Rs 3 crore budget. "This is not just about religious revival. It is a step toward restoring the city's lost pride and historical dignity," Chandra said. He added that the tourism department has already approved the Rs 7 crore package and that initial surveys have begun. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Providers are furious: Internet access without a subscription! Techno Mag Learn More Undo Work is expected to start within a month. This follows the govt's Dec 14 decision to reopen the Kartikeya Mahadev temple, which had remained shut for 46 years. Since then, the administration has launched an aggressive drive to identify and revive 68 teerth sthals (pilgrimage sites), 19 sacred wells (koops), and eight ASI-protected monuments across the district. For many, however, what is officially being described as a "religious tourism push" is widely seen as an effort to saffronise the city's historical narrative.
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
UP schools to be shutdown from 16 to 23 July: What parents need to know
Districts in Uttar Pradesh have ordered temporary school closures as the annual Kanwar Yatra picks up pace. The pilgrimage, held during the Hindu month of Shravan, draws huge crowds of Kanwariyas who walk for days to collect holy water for Shiva temples. The surge in devotees has forced officials to manage heavy traffic, reroute vehicles and keep students out of busy roads. In many towns, the usual rush of buses and autos mixes with slow-moving processions, making routine school commutes risky. Meerut and Muzaffarnagar take the lead Meerut's District Magistrate Dr V K Singh confirmed that all schools, from primary to degree colleges, will stay shut from 16 July to 23 July 2025. 'The increased movement of Kanwariyas during this period necessitated measures to ensure student safety and manage traffic effectively,' he said. Muzaffarnagar will follow the same dates. District Magistrate Umesh Mishra has warned that 'strict action' will be taken against any school that stays open against orders. This covers every type of school — government, private, CBSE, ICSE, technical and DIET institutions. Other districts adjust schedules Varanasi, a key stop for pilgrims heading to Kashi Vishwanath, has given schools a holiday on the first Monday of Shravan, 14 July. District Inspector of Schools Bholenath Pratap Singh said all missed classes will be held on a Sunday instead. Live Events Bareilly's District Magistrate Avinash Singh has declared holidays on all four Mondays in Shravan. Schools near Delhi Road and Badaun Road must keep staff present but students at home. Exams will carry on as planned. In Badaun, primary schools will stay closed every Saturday and Monday this month. The move is to keep young students off busy routes and free the roads for pilgrims. Why these closures happen The Kanwar Yatra has a wide footprint in north India, mainly Uttarakhand, UP, Bihar, Jharkhand, Haryana and Delhi. Haridwar, Varanasi and Deoghar see the biggest crowds. Each year, police reroute traffic, set up barricades and deploy extra security to keep the peace. Local officials say holidays help prevent accidents, cut down jams and make space for large gatherings. Teachers and parents have been asked to adjust lesson plans so that learning does not suffer. Haryana shuts schools after Principal's murder While UP schools close for a festival, Haryana faces a different problem. In Hisar, all 10,760 private schools will shut on 16 July to protest the killing of Kartar Memorial Senior Secondary School Principal Jagbir Singh Pannu. Satyawan Kundu, president of Haryana Private Schools Association, said, 'We demand a special law for teachers' security.' The killing in Bas Badshahpur village has shocked the teaching community, who want tighter safety rules for school staff. In Nuh district, schools shut on 13 and 14 July for the Jalabhishek Yatra, which aligns with the Kanwar Yatra. Fearing unrest, the local administration has suspended internet services until 9 PM on 14 July. Students and parents now wait to see how classes will be rescheduled once things settle down. Some districts plan to hold catch-up classes on Sundays. For now, all eyes are on the roads, the Kanwariyas and the security teams keeping watch.
