Deputy CMs open Shrawani Mela as call grows for nat'l pilgrimage status
"We have made consistent efforts to improve infrastructure in Sultanganj and along the trek routes, but there is still more to be done," they acknowledged while inaugurating the monthlong religious fair at Namami Gange Ghat, Sirhighat.
Accompanied by former minister and BJP state president Dilip Kumar Jaiswal, ministers Jayant Raj, Sanjay Saraogi, Santosh Kumar Singh and several JD(U) and BJP MLAs and MLCs, the deputy CMs addressed a crowd of Kanwariyas, who had gathered amidst chants of "Bolo Bam" to mark the start of the revered pilgrimage.
The Mela will continue till Aug 9.
Referring to the govt's efforts, the deputy CMs highlighted improvements in trekking routes, lighting, safety, drinking water, sanitation and health services as well as stable power supply in the Sultanganj area. They credited the Bhagalpur and Banka district administrations for their role in implementing these upgrades.
Highlighting the sharp rise in footfall each year, they said, "Pilgrims now come not just from across India but also from Nepal and Bhutan, bringing with them a rich diversity of cultures.
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The govt is focused on ensuring that this religious experience remains smooth and spiritually fulfilling for everyone."
Several MLAs and MLCs from Bhagalpur and Banka districts also used the occasion to urge the state govt to seek national status for the Shrawani Mela. "It is time that this event be declared a national fair, given its scale and international reach," one said. "With national recognition, we can ensure long-term infrastructure development that serves both pilgrims and religious tourism throughout the year," he added.
Held annually in July, the Shrawani Mela draws 70 to 80 lakh pilgrims from across the country and beyond. Devotees collect holy water from the Ganges at Sirighat, Sultanganj, where the river famously becomes Uttarvahini, turning northwards. The pilgrims then undertake a 105-km barefoot journey, carrying kanwars on their shoulders and chanting "Bolo Bam" along the route.
The journey culminates at Baidyanath Dham in Deoghar, Jharkhand, where the water is offered to Lord Shiva on the Shivalinga, completing what is considered one of the most sacred acts of devotion in the Hindu calendar.
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