Bhubaneswar, 10 August (H.S.) : Devotees across Odisha thronged prominent Shiva temples on the second Monday of the holy month of Sawan, with temples reverberating with chants of “Har Har Mahadev” and “Bol Bam” as thousands of devotees, including Kanwariyas, arrived to offer prayers and perform Jalabhishek.

Massive crowds were witnessed at several major Shiva shrines across the state, including the Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar, Lokanath Temple in Puri, Ladu Baba Temple in Nayagarh, Kapilash Temple in Dhenkanal and Dhabaleswar Temple in Cuttack.

Kanwariyas carried water-filled pitchers suspended from traditional bamboo poles on their shoulders and travelled to the temples to offer the sacred water to Lord Shiva. Many devotees undertook long journeys barefoot to fulfil their religious vows and offer prayers.

Offering water to Lord Shiva on Sawan Mondays holds special religious significance among devotees. It is widely believed that sincere prayers and Jalabhishek during the holy month bring health, prosperity, peace and spiritual well-being. Devotees also believe that Lord Shiva is easily pleased by sincere devotion and grants the wishes of his followers.

At the Dhabaleswar Temple in Cuttack, hundreds of devotees gathered to perform Jalabhishek, while long queues of devotees were seen at the Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar from the early morning hours. Temple authorities made arrangements to ensure smooth darshan and facilitate the orderly conduct of rituals.

In view of the large gatherings, elaborate security and crowd-management arrangements were put in place at major Shiva temples across Odisha. Additional police personnel were deployed at several locations to regulate the movement of devotees and prevent inconvenience.

Authorities also maintained heightened vigilance along the Mahanadi and other water bodies from where devotees collected water for Jalabhishek. With water levels remaining elevated following recent rainfall and the release of water from reservoirs, additional safety measures and monitoring arrangements were put in place to ensure the safety of pilgrims.

The second Sawan Monday thus witnessed a deeply devotional atmosphere across Odisha, as devotees observed the auspicious day with prayers, rituals and chants dedicated to Lord Shiva.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda