Varanasi/Sambhal/ Moradabad, 23 July (HS): On

Sawan Shivratri, which coincided with the final day of Kanwar Yatra on

Wednesday, Shiva temples around the Varanasi region were packed with pilgrims

giving prayers. A sizable crowd has gathered around the shrine since the

morning. Vishwa Bhushan Mishra, CEO of

Varanasi's Kashi Vishwanath Temple, stated that flowers were poured on

devotees. Mohit Agarwal, Police Commissioner, said that extra monitoring will

be kept using CCTV cameras and drones to guarantee peace and order.

The

historic Kartikeya Mahadev Temple in Sambhal, which reopened earlier this year

after nearly 46 years, witnessed a large turnout of worshipers as well. Sub

Divisional Magistrate Vikas Chandra, who conducted 'jalabhishek' at the temple,

stated that officials are trying hard to reclaim Sambhal's lost identity. We

are fortunate to have had the opportunity to pray and do 'jalabhishek,'

remarked a devotee.

In

Moradabad, on Wednesday, on the occasion of Shravan month's Shivratri, the

Kanwar fleet started the Jalabhishek from 3 o'clock in the night, chanting Lord

Ashutosh. Keeping in view the crowd of Kanwariyas, the doors of the ancient

Siddhapeeth 84 Ghanta Temple in Kisraul and the Jharkhandi Shiv Temple in

Nagfani were opened at 3 o'clock in the night. At the same time, devotees

thronged the Shiva temples of all the temples of the city since early morning

for the Jalabhishek. Dak Kanwars kept arriving in the major temples till 2

o'clock in the afternoon. Shiva temples were decorated grandly. The fast was

ended after offering food to Lord Shiva.

On the Shivratri of Shravan month, devotees thronged the Shiva

temples with Kanwar rafts for Jalabhishek. The crowd of Kanwariyas carrying

Kanwar from Haridwar and Brijghat started gathering at Chaurasi Ghanta Mandir

and Jharkhandi Shiv Mandir after 12 midnight. The chanting of Lord Ashutosh

started at the temple. Seeing the crowd, DJ and other vehicles coming with

Kanwar rafts were stopped at the intersection of Thana Nagfani and Diwan Ka

Bazar. Due to the crowd, the doors of 84 Ghanta Mandir and Jharkhandi Shiv

Mandir were opened at around 3 o'clock in the night. Chief priest of 84 Ghanta

Mandir, Pujari Vishnu Dutt Sharma told that after cleaning the temple, Aarti

was performed and from around 3 o'clock, the groups of Kanwar and Dak Kanwar

started Jalabhishek first. Other devotees also started arriving from 4 o'clock

in the morning. They queued up and performed Puja and then performed

Jalabhishek of Lord Ashutosh.

On the occasion of Shivratri in the month of Shravan, a large

number of people of the metropolis brought Ganga water from Haridwar and

Brajghat and performed Jalabhishek. These people reached various temples with

Ganga water on two-wheelers and four-wheelers early in the morning today and

performed Jalabhishek. Apart from this, in all the temples of the metropolis,

the devotees performed Jalabhishek and worshiped with their families. The

devotees performed Jalabhishek by offering Bhaang, Dhatura and Bael leaves to

Bhole Baba. Kirtan was performed by the Mahila Sankirtan Mandali in the temples

and Maha Aarti was also performed. During this time, many temples were

decorated with flowers, leaves, colourful light strings and fruits.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi