Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath marked the beginning of the holy month of Sawan on Friday by performing sacred rituals, including Rudrabhishek and Havan, at the historic Gorakhnath Temple in Gorakhpur. As the mahant (head priest) of the Gorakhnath Math, the CM led the devotional ceremonies with traditional Vedic chants.
The first day of Sawan, a spiritually significant month dedicated to Lord Shiva in the Hindu lunar calendar, witnessed a massive influx of devotees at Shiva temples across India.
At Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi and Jharkhandi Mahadev Temple in Gorakhpur, long queues of worshippers formed early in the morning. Similar scenes were observed in Ayodhya, where devotees offered prayers at Nageshwar Nath Mandir and Kshireshwarnath Mahadev Temple.
In Kanpur, crowds thronged the Anandeshwar Mahadev Mandir, while in Jaipur, Rajasthan Deputy CM Diya Kumari participated in rituals at Raj Rajeshwar Mandir in the City Palace.
Delhi also witnessed vibrant observances, with devotees gathering at Prachin Shri Bhairav Mandir in Kalkaji. At Daksheswar Mahadev Temple in Haridwar and Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain, Rudrabhishek rituals were performed with offerings of milk, curd, and honey.
This year, Sawan runs from July 11 to August 9. Considered one of the holiest months in the Hindu calendar, it commemorates the time when Lord Shiva consumed the poison from the cosmic churning (Samudra Manthan) to save the universe.
Mondays during this month are especially sacred for Shiva devotees, while Tuesdays are dedicated to Goddess Parvati. Devotees observe fasts, chant Shiva mantras, perform bhajans, and engage in rituals like Rudrabhishek across homes and temples with great devotion.
