DEOGHAR, Aug. 3: Lakhs of devotees thronged the revered Baba Baidyanath Dham in Jharkhand’s Deoghar on the first Monday of the holy month of Shravan, with the district administration expecting a footfall of nearly two to three lakh pilgrims for Jalarpan (offering of holy water) to Bhagwan Shiva.
Officials said around 1.5 lakh devotees had visited the temple on Sunday, and the number was expected to rise significantly on the first Monday of the auspicious month, considered one of the most important occasions for Shiva devotees.
To manage the anticipated rush, the district administration introduced several crowd-management measures, including extending the outer Argha (offering receptacle) to more than seven feet, installing expandable barricades inside and outside the temple premises, clearing shops along the route to the Parvati Mandir, and setting up an additional outer Argha near the shrine to facilitate devotees unable to join the main queue.
“Today is the first Monday of the Shravani month. A very large number of people have arrived. About 1.5 lakh devotees visited yesterday, and today we expect around 2.5 lakh people, or possibly even more,” Deoghar Sub-Divisional Officer and Temple In-charge Ravi Kumar said.
“We incorporated lessons learned from last year and extended the outer ‘Argha’ to more than seven feet. Those unable to join the long queues for the main offering can use this outer ‘Argha’,” he added.
Kumar said the queuing system had been streamlined with expandable barriers to ensure orderly movement of devotees.
“The queuing system has been organised efficiently with expandable barriers installed both outside and inside the temple. Barricades and adequate police personnel have been deployed across the city to manage the crowds,” he said.
Security arrangements have also been significantly strengthened across the temple town. Quick Response Team (QRT) personnel and additional police forces have been deployed at strategic locations to regulate the movement of pilgrims and ensure smooth conduct of the rituals.
“Today marks the first Monday of the holy month of Sawan, and we have made preparations accordingly. A crowd of approximately 2 to 3 lakh people is expected,” Deoghar Superintendent of Police Praveen Pushkar said.
“All Quick Response Team (QRT) personnel and other jawans are deployed at their respective posts. Once the preliminary rituals conclude and the Argha is set up, the Jalarpan will begin,” he added.
The holy month of Shravan, dedicated to Bhagwan Shiva, began on July 30 this year and will continue until August 28. The first Monday of Shravan traditionally witnesses one of the largest gatherings of devotees at Baba Baidyanath Dham, one of the twelve revered Jyotirlingas in the country.
