Devotees queue up at Varanasi's Kashi Vishwanath Temple to offer prayers on first Monday of 'Sawan'
Devotees were also seen queuing up to offer prayers and perform rituals dedicated to Lord Shiva at Varanasi's Kashi Vishwanath Temple, as the auspicious month of Sawan continues to draw crowds to one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. Following this, security was heightened at the temple.
Police Commissioner Mohit Agarwal said a dedicated lane for the kanwariyas has been created and arrangements have been made for surveillance through drones in the nearby areas of the temple.
'In 'Saavan', around lakhs of devotees visit the Kashi Vishwanath temple in a day. In regard to that, we have been making preparations for the last month. Many people come here from Prayagraj, so we have created a dedicated lane for the kanwariyas coming from that route...The whole route is covered with CCTVs...We have made arrangements for surveillance through drones in the nearby areas of the temple...We have done the barricading near the temple for the convenience of devotees...,' Police Commissioner Mohit Agarwal told ANI.
In Lucknow's Mankameshwar Temple, devotees offered prayers on the first Monday of the Sawan month.
This year, Shravan began on July 11 and will conclude on August 9. It is the fifth month of the Hindu lunar calendar and is considered one of the holiest periods for Shiva devotees.
Central Lucknow DCP Ashish Srivastava said, 'On the first Monday of Saawan, a large number of people are expected to visit the Mankameshwar Temple. The arrangements made earlier have been further improved. Lighting and CCTV have been increased, and road arrangements have also been enhanced. Shops have been organised to ensure the roads remain as open as possible for the maximum number of devotees.'
In Uttar Pradesh's Sitapur, devotees thronged the Shyam Nath Temple to offer prayers on the occasion. Devotees also offered prayers at the Dudheshwar Mahadev temple in Ghaziabad.
CO City, Aman Singh said, 'Shyam Nath temple is one of the main temples in Sitapur. We have deployed police force on the routes of Kanwar Yatris. We have diverted routes for the heavy vehicles.'
Meanwhile, devotees thronged the Gauri Shankar Temple to offer prayers in the national capital.
Shravan (or Sawan) holds immense significance in Hindu mythology. During this month, devotees undertake fasts, offer prayers, chant Shiva mantras, sing devotional bhajans, and perform Rudrabhishek--the ceremonial bathing of the Shiva Lingam with sacred substances such as milk, honey, and curd.
Every Monday (Somwar) of this month is considered especially auspicious and is dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva. Tuesdays (Mangalwar) are observed in honour of Goddess Parvati, the divine consort of Shiva.
Many devotees observe strict fasts, abstaining from grains and consuming only fruits, milk, and specific foods permitted during fasting. Rituals are performed with great devotion both at home and in temples.
Devotees offer prayers to seek the blessings of Lord Shiva during this period. The chanting of Shiva mantras, singing bhajans (devotional songs), and performing Rudrabhishek (ceremonial bathing of Shiva Lingam with holy substances) are common practices observed with fervour across households and temples during the 'Sawan' month. (ANI)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Cops ban vehicles in Ramkund area on Mondays & Saturdays
Nashik: In view of the huge rush of devotees at the Kapaleshwar temple, Ramkund, and Gangaghat areas on Saturdays and Mondays in the Shravan month, the Nashik city police have banned all kinds of vehicles near these places from 6am to 10pm on all Mondays and Saturdays starting July 28 to Aug 23. The month of Shravan began on July 25. Police said every year, during Shravan, there is a huge rush of devotees in the Panchavati area who want to have darshan in different temples and also take a dip in the river waters. Considering the rush, police decided to restrict the movement of traffic on Mondays and Saturdays until Aug 23 from 6am to 10pm on these two days. The roads that will be closed for motor vehicles are from Malegaon Stand to Kapaleshwar temple, Khandave hall to Kapaleshwar temple, Sardar Chowk to Kapaleshwar temple, and Dhike library to Kapaleshwar temple. Motorists are urged not to use these roads from 6am to 10pm on Mondays and Saturdays until Aug 23. An order in this regard has been issued by DCP (HQ) Chandrakant Khandvi. Senior police officers said they have also deployed strict bandobast so that the devotees do not have to face any inconveniences while taking darshan or taking a dip in the river water.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Udaipur Files row: Producer Amit Jani accorded CRPF Y-category security; had alleged threats to his life
Amit Jani (Image courtesy: X) NEW DELHI: The central government on Sunday provided Y- CRPF security to Amit Jani, the producer of the upcoming film Udaipur Files, following his claims of threats to his life. The security cover will be applicable in both Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, officials told news agency ANI. Jani, who also heads the Uttar Pradesh Navnirman Sena, a right-wing outfit, expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah for the decision. "Heartfelt thanks to honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji and home minister Shri Amit Shah ji for providing Y-category security from the Center," he wrote on X. Udaipur Files is based on the 2022 killing of tailor Kanhaiya Lal in Udaipur, Rajasthan — a murder which drew national outrage. Originally scheduled to release on July 11, the film ran into legal and censorship issues. It will now release on August 8. The Delhi high Court dad earlier stayed Udaipur Files' release despite censor board clearance, citing potential risks to communal harmony.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Questions arise over ‘ineffectivecrowd control, missing cops at site'
Haridwar: The Mansa Devi temple stampede has raised several questions over failure in proper crowd control and management by Haridwar district administration and police, as per locals. Many pointed out that adequate police presence on the pedestrian route and the entrance for better crowd control could have averted the tragedy, adding that the situation was exacerbated by unauthorised structures on the route. Mohan Lal, whose six-year-old nephew Arush died in the stampede, said, "Only if there were proper arrangements on the temple route, my nephew would've been alive today. There was no police presence on the narrow route. It was overcrowded with people moving up and down at the same time, leading to the congestion. Also, no one could move forward... Even after the incident, help arrived late." People started to panic when rumours spread that the temple gates were being closed, Lal said, adding: "It was a terrible sight." Video clips of the stampede showed a huge crowd of men, women and children stuck in a narrow passage leading to the temple. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like New Retirement Villages Near Sylhe Sadar Senior Living | Search Ads Undo Dozens of people, seemingly glued to each other and hardly moving, could only manage to hold the children above their heads, news agency PTI reported. Mahendra Pratap Singh, an eyewitness who saw the stampede from a rooftop a little distance away, was quoted by PTI as saying that excess crowd was "the only factor to the tragic incident." Ajay Jaiswal, a local, was also quoted by the agency as saying that the administration should have been more alert. "Mansa Devi is the biggest centre of attraction for devotees in Haridwar after Har Ki Pauri. Thousands of devotees come here every day. The crowd swells during the month of Sawan as a rule. Being a Sunday, the possibility of a larger crowd was very much there. So, the administration should have been more alert," he said. Haridwar-based social activist JP Badoni told TOI, "This tragedy could've been averted. Local administration is solely responsible. This is not the first such tragedy in Haridwar. However, lessons from the past have clearly not been learnt. There are over 200 illegally constructed shops along the Mansa Devi pedestrian route, many of which draw electricity illegally. Despite the area being a reserved zone, the forest department never took any action. The religious trust managing the temple also never addressed the growing risks." Badoni urged immediate legal steps against those responsible. Meanwhile, assuring a comprehensive review, DM Mayur Dixit told TOI: "The temple administration has been directed to employ private security. Crowd management protocols at religious sites will undergo review." Soon after the tragedy, chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami instructed disaster management secretary Vinod Kumar Suman to conduct a comprehensive assessment of crowd management, route planning and security measures across Uttarakhand's pilgrimage sites to prevent similar incidents in future.
