Bhubaneswar, July 14: Devotional fervour gripped Odisha as thousands of devotees gathered at prominent Shiva temples across the state to mark the first Monday of the auspicious Hindu month of Shravan.
Known for its spiritual significance, the day saw a sea of ‘Bol Bom’ devotees, also called ‘kanwariyas’, offering holy water to Shiva lingas in a ritual steeped in tradition and faith.
Major temples including Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar, Lokanath Temple in Puri, Dhabaleswar in Athagarh, Kapilash in Dhenkanal, Gupteswar in Koraput, and Harishankar in Balangir witnessed heavy footfall since early morning as devotees queued up to offer prayers.
According to Hindu belief, offering worship to Lord Shiva on Shravan Mondays brings prosperity, fulfilment of wishes, and divine blessings. Many devotees observed fasts, offering items like milk, bel (bael) leaves, honey, flowers, and sandalwood paste to the deity as part of the sacred rituals.
Temple administrations across Odisha made elaborate arrangements to manage the influx of worshippers, ensuring smooth darshan and crowd control. Volunteers and police personnel were deployed to guide devotees and maintain order, particularly around high-footfall temples.
Devotees who fasted throughout the day broke their fast after sunset or at night, typically consuming light meals including sabudana (sago), boiled raw banana, and fruits to maintain digestive balance.
While Mondays are traditionally dedicated to Lord Shiva, the Mondays falling in the month of Shravan believed to be particularly dear to the deity are regarded as especially powerful for prayer and penance. The Shravan period is considered the holiest time to seek divine grace through devotion, self-discipline, and spiritual offerings.
With four more Mondays to go in the month, the fervour is expected to intensify, drawing more kanwariyas and pilgrims from across the region in the coming weeks.
