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Time of India

Sea of devotion: KVT sees huge influx on 1st Shrawan ‘Somvar'

1 2 3 4 5 6 Varanasi: The Kashi Vishwanath Temple was bathed in an aura of profound spirituality as a sea of devoted pilgrims congregated to pay obeisance to Lord Shiv on the auspicious occasion of the first Monday of the holy Shrawan month. Throughout the day, the sacred precincts resonated with fervent chants of 'Har Har Mahadev' as the faithful offered ardent prayers to the deity As the ethereal notes of the 'mangla aarti' faded away in the early morning hours, the revered sanctum sanctorum of the Kashi Vishwanath temple swung open its doors, inviting the faithful to partake in the sacred 'jharokha darshan'. Devotees, arrayed in lines stretching from Maidagin and Godowlia, were greeted with a gentle cascade of flowers as they awaited their turn to enter the majestic Kashi Vishwanath Dham to offer 'Jalabhishek'. The area around the temple remained heavily crowded with pilgrims and saffron-clad kanwariyas. As the devotees patiently waited for their turn, commissioner of pPolice Mohit Agrawal, district magistrate Satyendra Kumar, temple's chief executive officer Vishw Bhushan Mishra and other officials showered petals on them at different points. Officials, especially the CP, could also be seen seeking feedback from pilgrims and kanwariyas on the arrangements. The temple administration has stopped the process of sharing the footfall of devotees on an hourly basis this year. The CEO said that as per the decision taken by the temple trust and administration, the entire figure for the Shrawan will be released after the end of the auspicious month. A majestic, specially adorned processional idol of Lord Shiv captivated the devotees as they navigated the zig-zag barricades within the Kashi Vishwanath Dham. To ensure a comfortable experience, authorities provided extensive amenities, including German hangars and sheds to shield visitors from the elements. Additionally, they offered glucose, ORS solutions, and drinking water to keep devotees hydrated. Medical aid and lost and found services were also readily available. Keeping in mind the arrangements for the devotees coming from all over the country, the administration has ensured ample drinking water counters, medical help desks, lost and found centres, and other facilities and security arrangements in the temple area. The Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust ensured all possible and necessary arrangements for an orderly and smooth darshan. To cater to the large gathering, the Kashi Vishwanath Temple administration arranged a live telecast of the sacred rituals on LED screens within the temple premises and at six other strategic locations, including the railway station, Godowlia Crossing, and ghats. This allowed pilgrims and kanwariyas to witness the ceremonies in real-time, making their wait in long queues more meaningful. The darshan will also be available worldwide via YouTube live streaming, allowing devotees across the globe to see Baba Vishwanath during Shrawan. Earlier, continuing their tradition, Yadav Bandhus reached the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in large numbers to offer 'Jalabhishek'. As most of the ghats along the river Ganga have been submerged, men in khaki kept extra vigil there to avoid crowding of devotees collecting Gangajal for offering 'Jalabhishek' at various temples. A huge crowd was also evident at all other temples of Lord Shiv, including Markandeya Mahadev on the Ganga-Gomti confluence at Kaithi, Tilbhandeshwar, Kedareshwar, Onkaleshwar and Tilbhandeshwar. Jageshwar, Rameshwar, Shooltankeshwar, Kardmeshwar, and Mrityunjaya Mahadev. The temples reverberated with Vedic chants, accompanied by the sounds of conch shells, bells, and hymns.