E-Paper
Prayagraj: Devotees throng Shiva temples on last Somwar of holy Shrawan month
As the weather in Sangam city remained pleasant, devotees in various temples stood in long queues from early in the morning.
The last ‘somwar’ (Monday) of the holy month of Shrawan witnessed a large number of devotees thronging various temples of Lord Shiva, in Sangam city on Monday. Although Shrawan would end only on the coming Sunday, the temples reverberated with the chants of ‘Bam bam bhole’ and ‘Har har Mahadev as the devouts made a beeline for the Shivalayas to make most of this holy day.
Adding to the zeal of devotees, the weather in Sangam city too remained pleasant because of which also the devotees were seen standing in long queues from the early morning in various temples of the city. Similarly, a large number of devotees thronged Sangam to take a holy dip and after filling Ganga water, they offered the same in the nearby Shiva temples.
Every small and big temple of Lord Shiva in the city witnessed a heavy rush of devotees, but the maximum rush was witnessed at the Mankameshwar Temple in Kydganj and the Padila Mahadeo temple at Phaphamau, where devotees queued up in the early morning. Bearing thalis with various offerings to be offered to shivalingas, including milk, honey, sandalwood paste and leaves of wood apple, women and girls waited patiently for their turn for making the offerings. An equal rush was witnessed at the temple of Shivkuti where a fair would mark the end of the holy month on the coming Friday.
A large number of ‘kanwariyas’ also gathered at Shiva temples to offer holy water. Throwing light on the importance of Somwar, especially the last Monday, an eminent priest from Varanasi, Hemant Bhaduri said, “It is said that lord Shiva showers blessings on all those who remember him with a true heart. This is one of the reasons that motivate lakhs of Shiva devotees especially kanwariyas to travel hundreds of kilometres barefoot and offer prayers at the Shiva ‘jyotirlingas’ including the popular one Lord Vishwanath in Varanasi.”
Mondays, or Somvar, in the month of Shrawan and especially the first and last Somvars, are considered highly auspicious for praying to Lord Shiva. It is believed that the worship of Shiva during Shrawan month is 108 times more effective than worshipping during normal days, he added.
Millions of devout Hindus observe the Shrawan Somwar Vrat – fasting and performing Puja after the morning bath and other purification rituals. Lord Ganesha is first prayed to and next, Lord Shiva is prayed to by chanting Om Namah Shivaya, he explained.
