Shrawan spirit sweeps city as women flock to markets

Time of India

10-07-2025

Patna: As the holy month of Shrawan begins on Friday and continues till August 9, women across Patna are preparing for the monthlong rituals by adorning themselves with the traditional "solah shringar" and performing Shiva worship.
While married women observe fasts and offer prayers for the well-being of their husbands, unmarried girls also fast to fulfil their wishes.
Rinku Singh, a dupatta seller, said, "Every year Shrawan has different trends. This year, 'moss green' is the crowd favourite." He added that cotton remains the most preferred material, given the humidity and frequent rains while silk is usually avoided.
A bangle seller at Maurya Lok said green is considered Lord Shiva's favourite colour.
The display of green glass and lac bangles is prominent across shops, not just for aesthetics but because wearing green is believed to bring prosperity to married life and symbolises the seasonal greenery and growth in vegetation.
Despite concerns about online shopping cutting into their sales, Shayan and Sourav, who run their 25-year-old family business of accessories, say Shrawan remains a highly profitable season.
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"Our regular customers still come to the shop. Online shopping hasn't made a big dent yet. Sundays are the busiest, as women prepare for Monday's Shivji puja. On such days, we make profits of Rs 10,000–Rs 15,000," said Shayan.
Nilu Mishra, a customer buying green bangles, noted, "Only married women wear green bangles and bindis as they symbolise marriage. Unmarried women wear green clothes and apply mehendi (henna) on their hands."
Another customer, Anuradha Kumari, added, "Married women gift bangles and vermillion to one another in the community. It is believed to bring good luck and abundance."
Temples across Patna are also gearing up for the devotional surge. Women begin queueing as early as 4am for jal abhishek and rudra abhishek, which continue till late evening. Sonu Kumar, a member of Anisabad Shiv Mandir, said, "The temple has been cleaned and painted.
It will be lit in green, and sound systems are ready. The community contributes every year to the celebration of Shrawan."
At Shri Shiv Mandir, Boring Road, priest Umesh Kumar Dwivedi said the temple sees over 1,000 devotees every Monday during the month.
Mahavir Mandir, one of Patna's largest temples, offers one-hour rudra abhishek slots. These are booked for Rs 2,310 on regular days and Rs 2,750 on Mondays, with bookings starting as early as May to reduce rush. "Around 1,300 bookings have already been made," said K Sudhakaran, the temple's campus superintendent. A fourth shivling on the second floor will be inaugurated on Friday, the first day of Shrawan.