New Delhi, July 14 – From the sacred cities of Kashi, Haridwar, and Ujjain to every corner of the country, the first Monday of the holy month of Sawan is being celebrated with immense devotion and grandeur. Since the early hours of the morning, devotees have been seen bathing in sacred rivers and performing jalabhishek and Rudrabhishek rituals to honor Lord Shiva, revered as the God of gods.
Long queues of devotees have formed outside Shiva temples and shrines across India. The chants of “Har Har Mahadev” resonate in every direction as worshippers pour holy water over Shiva Lingams, especially along the banks of the Ganges—considered to have descended to earth due to Bhagirath’s penance. People began taking holy dips and offering water to Lord Shiva from as early as 3 or 4 a.m.
As per agency report, the sacred Amarnath Yatra also continues amidst these celebrations. In Tamil Nadu’s Madurai, the Kumbhabhishekam ceremony was held at the famous Subramanya Swamy Temple in Thiruparankundram. In Ayodhya, devotees performed rituals at the Ksheereshwar Nath Temple, while in Varanasi, the Kashi Vishwanath Temple saw a massive influx of pilgrims.
In the national capital Delhi, the Gauri Shankar Temple in Chandni Chowk was filled to capacity, with devotees patiently lining up for jalabhishek. Similar scenes were reported at major Shiva temples throughout the country. In Uttarakhand’s Haridwar, people bathed in the Ganga and flocked to the Daksheshwar Mahadev Temple in large numbers.
In Madhya Pradesh’s Ujjain, which houses one of the 12 Jyotirlingas at the Mahakaleshwar Temple, the day began with the traditional bhasma aarti. The rituals started with a ceremonial bath of the deity followed by panchamrit abhishek using milk, curd, ghee, honey, and fruits. The bhasma aarti filled the temple with sacred Vedic chants, conch sounds, bells, and devotional songs.
In Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi, heavy footfall at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple prompted enhanced security arrangements. Police Commissioner Mohit Agrawal informed that a separate route has been designated for Kanwar pilgrims and drone surveillance is being conducted in nearby areas. In the state capital Lucknow, devotees offered water to Lord Shiva at the Mankameshwar Temple, while in Ghaziabad, worshippers lined up from early morning at the Dudheshwar Mahadev Temple.
On the eve of Sawan’s first Monday, renowned sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik created an intricate sculpture of Lord Shiva on the beach in Puri, Odisha. Meanwhile, the 12th group of pilgrims set out for the Amarnath Yatra from the Nunwan base camp in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha announced via a social media post that the Amarnath Yatra has crossed the milestone of two lakh pilgrims, describing it as a sacred journey of life. The Yatra is proceeding simultaneously through both the Pahalgam and Baltal routes.
This year, the month of Shravan began on July 11 and will conclude on August 9. The month is considered especially auspicious for worshipping Lord Shiva, and Sawan Mondays hold particular spiritual significance for devotees seeking blessings, prosperity, and inner peace.
