Massive crowds of devotees gathered at temples across India to offer prayers on the second Monday of the holy month of Sawan, with Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi witnessing one of the largest turnouts.
Long queues of devotees were seen outside the temple from early morning. Vishwa Bhushan Mishra, CEO of Kashi Vishwanath Temple, showered flower petals on devotees waiting patiently to offer their prayers to Lord Shiva.
Other major temples also saw significant gatherings:
- In Ayodhya, large crowds assembled outside Hanumangarhi Temple.
- Gorakhpur’s Mukteshwar Nath, Moradabad’s Kameshwar Mahadev, Ghaziabad’s Dudheshwar Mahadev, and Prayagraj’s Mankaameshwar Temple all welcomed thousands of worshippers.
- In Jaipur, prayers were offered at the Jharkhand Mahadev Temple, while in Deoghar (Jharkhand), devotees gathered at the famed Baba Baidyanath Dham.
- In Guwahati, worshippers visited the Sukreshwar Temple in large numbers.
- A special Bhasma Aarti was performed at Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga in Ujjain, marking a spiritual highlight of the day.
In Sambhal, officials welcomed Kanwariyas returning from their pilgrimage. CO Anuj Chaudhary stated that camps had been set up with medical facilities and refreshments under the direction of the Superintendent of Police. “Adequate security measures including CCTV surveillance and deployment of forces have been ensured for a peaceful experience,” he added.
Shravan, which began on July 11 and ends on August 9, is considered one of the most sacred months in the Hindu calendar, dedicated to Lord Shiva. Devotees observe fasts, perform Rudrabhishek, chant mantras, and engage in devotional singing. Mondays (Somwars) are especially significant, while Sawan Shivratri—falling on July 23 this year—marks the spiritual peak of the month.