Sawan Shivratri: Shiva Temples Across India Witness Large Gatherings of Devotees

Shiva temples in several parts of India witnessed a major influx of devotees on Tuesday as people gathered to observe Sawan Shivratri with prayers and traditional rituals. Devotees performed Jalabhishek, offering water to Shivlings, at prominent shrines across Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Delhi and Haryana. In Varanasi, devotees took a dip in the Ganga before heading to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple to offer prayers on the auspicious occasion. The temple town saw large crowds as pilgrims participated in religious rituals associated with Sawan Shivratri.

In Meerut, a significant gathering of Kanwariyas was seen at the Baba Augarnath Temple, where devotees arrived in large numbers to perform Jalabhishek. Authorities deployed extensive security measures to manage the crowds and ensure the smooth movement of pilgrims. ADG Bhanu Bhashkar said police personnel and senior officers had been stationed in the area since 2 am. Around 300 cameras were being used for surveillance, with officials monitoring the live feeds to keep track of the situation.

Extensive security arrangements have been made, with volunteers and various organisations assisting to ensure that no one faces any inconvenience. Everything is proceeding peacefully so far, Bhashkar said. He added that social media platforms were also being monitored at several levels, including the district, headquarters, range and zonal levels. According to the official, authorities expected the overall footfall to reach around four crore devotees.

Prayagraj also saw devotees visiting the Dashashwamedh Temple to offer prayers, while large crowds gathered at the Barasau Shiv Temple in Bulandshahr for Jalabhishek. In Uttarakhands Haridwar, devotees arrived in large numbers at the Daksheshwar Mahadev Temple. Long queues were seen from the early hours as pilgrims waited for their turn to perform rituals.

Haridwar CO City Shishupal Singh Negi said a large number of devotees had already reached the city and that adequate security arrangements were in place. Police personnel were deployed at key locations to regulate the crowds and maintain order. In Jharkhands Deoghar, devotees thronged the Baba Baidyanath Temple, one of the countrys prominent Shiva shrines, to seek blessings and participate in Sawan Shivratri rituals.

Delhi also witnessed religious fervour, with devotees offering prayers at the historic Gauri Shankar Temple. In Haryanas Ambala, devotees performed Jalabhishek and offered water to the Shivling. Across the country, the festival was marked by long queues outside temples, large gatherings of pilgrims and traditional worship rituals. Jalabhishek remained one of the central practices, with devotees offering water and prayers to Lord Shiva as part of the Sawan Shivratri observances.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.