Varanasi/Mathura, Aug 3 : Shiva temples across Uttar Pradesh reverberated with chants of “Bam Bam Bhole” as the first Monday of Shravan drew massive crowds, with Kanwariyas being welcomed with flower showers and over 2.25 lakh pilgrims visiting Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple by early morning.
The doors of Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple were opened for devotees after the ‘mangala aarti’ in the early hours, following which worshippers queued up to perform ‘jalabhishek’ (ritual offering of water) and seek the blessings of Lord Shiva.
According to temple authorities, over 2.25 lakh pilgrims offered prayers by 7 am.
Kanwariyas (Lord Shiva devotees) and others were welcomed with a shower of flowers at the temple complex on the occasion.
The welcome ceremony was held in the presence of senior officials, including the Varanasi Divisional Commissioner, Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Chief Executive Officer Vishwa Bhushan Mishra, deputy collector, naib tehsildar and other officials.
Mishra said an estimated eight lakh devotees were expected to visit the temple during the day.
“The flow of devotees has remained uninterrupted since the temple opened after the mangala aarti, and darshan will continue till late in the night,” Mishra said.
In Mathura, large numbers of devotees thronged major Shiva temples.
At the historic Bhuteshwar Mahadev Temple, also known as “Shehr Kotwal”, devotees performed ‘maha abhishek’ of Lord Shiva, said Jitendra Goswami, Sewayat of the temple.
Devotees also offered bael leaves, akshat (rice) and prasad to the lord amid chants of “Bam Bam Bhole”. The temple has been witnessing a heavy rush of devotees since early morning, Goswami said.
The temple will organise “Phool Bangla”, “Chappan Bhog” and a “Bhandara” in the evening, he added.
In Muzaffarnagar, District Magistrate Chandra Prakash Singh and SSP Shlok Kumar inspected arrangements at the Chintaharan Mahadev Temple.
Long queues of devotees were seen outside Shiva temples at Shiva Chowk, Vahelna and Krishnapuri, as well as the famous Panchmukhi Shivling Temple in Sambhalhera village in the district.
Authorities across the state had made elaborate arrangements for crowd management and the smooth movement of devotees during the first Monday of Shravan, when Shiva temples witness heavy footfall.
