On the first Monday of the holy month of Sawan, thousands of devotees thronged the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi to offer prayers to Lord Shiva, marking the beginning of a spiritually charged period for worshippers across India.
Long queues of devotees were seen at the historic temple, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva, as chants of “Har Har Mahadev” filled the air. With the Sawan month considered especially sacred by Shiva devotees, security was significantly heightened in and around the temple premises.
Varanasi Police Commissioner Mohit Agarwal said extensive preparations had been made in anticipation of the massive turnout. “Dedicated lanes have been created for kanwariyas, especially those arriving from Prayagraj. The entire route is under CCTV surveillance, and drone monitoring is being conducted in nearby areas. Barricading has also been set up to manage the crowd smoothly,” he said.
Elsewhere in Uttar Pradesh, a similar wave of devotion was seen. In Lucknow, large numbers of devotees offered prayers at the Mankameshwar Temple. DCP Central Lucknow Ashish Srivastava said security measures had been strengthened with added lighting, CCTV cameras, and improved road arrangements to ensure smooth movement.
In Sitapur, devotees visited the Shyam Nath Temple, where local police deployed additional forces and diverted heavy vehicle routes to facilitate the Kanwar Yatra. In Ghaziabad, the Dudheshwar Mahadev Temple also witnessed heavy footfall.
The spiritual fervour extended to the national capital as well, where worshippers gathered at Delhi’s Gauri Shankar Temple to mark the auspicious occasion.
The month of Shravan, which began on July 11 and will conclude on August 9, holds immense significance in Hindu tradition. It is believed to be especially dear to Lord Shiva, and Mondays (Somwars) are considered most sacred during this time.
Devotees observe fasts, chant Shiva mantras, perform Rudrabhishek (ritual bathing of the Shiva Lingam with milk, honey, and other sacred substances), and sing devotional hymns throughout the month. Many also refrain from consuming grains, instead relying on fruits and dairy-based diets during their fasts.
With each Monday of Sawan expected to draw increasing numbers of pilgrims to Shiva temples across India, authorities continue to enhance safety and logistics to accommodate the surging spiritual gatherings.
