Bhagalpur/Deoghar: Though weather conditions by and large continue to remain uncongenial due to deficient rainfall however this has hardly dampened spirit of lakhs of pilgrim undertaking trek of 104 kilometers this Shrawan to Baidyanathdham temple in Deoghar district of Jharkhand from Sultanganj in Bhagalpur district of Bihar.
Popularly known as Shrawani Mela, during month of Shrawan every year collecting holy water of Ganga from Sultanganj, pilgrims undertake journey on foot with Knawars for paying obeisance to lord Shiva at Baidyanath temple. With large number of people undertaking pilgrimage, it is anticipated post covid highest footfall of pilgrims would be recorded this time.
Highlights
- More than 27.49 Lakh Pilgrims Perform Jal Arpan at BaidyanathdhamTemple between July 22 and August 6
- Baidyanathdham Temple Records Receipt of Rs 2.88 Crore from different sources Including Offering of Pilgrims Between July 22 and August 5
As per report Deoghar DC Vishal Sagar and SDPO Ritik Srivastav informed media persons at a press conference held at Deoghar today that last Monday approximately three lakh people offered holy water of Ganga (Jal Arpan) to Lord Shiva at Baidyanathdham temple. The number of pilgrims who did Jal Arpan on last Monday was highest on any Monday of Shrawan after 2019.
As per figures provided by Deoghar district administration authorities at press conference since July 22 up to August 6 this year more than 27.49 lakh pilgrims have done Jal Arpan at Biadyanathdham temple through Vihya Arghaya (external arghaya), Antarik Arghaya (internal arghaya) and Shighra Darshanam.
In the period since start of Shrawani Mela on July 22 and August 5 receipt of more than Rs 2.88 crore was recorded at Baidyanathdham temple from different sources including offering by devotees., DC reportedly informed at press conference.
He confirmed after 2019, third Monday of Shrawan this year recorded highest turnout of pilgrim at Baidyanathdham temple. Taking into account huge turnout of pilgrims at Baidyanathdham temple on last Monday both Deoghar and Bhagalpur district administration have geared up effort to ensure smooth pilgrimage for pilgrims on fourth Monday of Shrawan.
DM Bhagalpur Nawal Kishore Choudhury during his visit to Sultanganj last week reviewed the arrangements made for convenience of pilgrims and also for crowd management. It is anticipated weekend footfall of pilgrims at Sultanganj and total turnout of pilgrims at Baidyanathdham temple on coming Monday could be more compared to previous Monday.
Meanwhile with large number of people undertaking trek from Sultanganj to Deoghar one can have saffron feel in the entire pilgrim route connecting Sultanganj with Deoghar. Apart from people undertaking journey on foot for pilgrimage in some cases young people could be seen using skating shoes to complete their journey.
To see pilgrims carrying holy water of Ganga in heavily decorated Kanwars is an added attraction of Mela. The young pilgrims undertaking trek could be seen carrying attractively decorated heavy Kanwars. With increased facilities now available for pilgrims in pilgrim route passing through Bihar and Jharkhand the people undertaking pilgrimage in many cases feel trek has become easier for them compared to past.
- Writer Avijit Biswas, former principal correspondent of Hindustan Times Bhagalpur bureau, can be contacted at biswasavijit@yahoo.comContact number (mobile): +919431095516
