Balasore, Jul 27: Devotion reached its peak at the famous Baba Chandaneswar Temple in Bhograi, Balasore district, as lakhs of Kanwariyas thronged the shrine on the second Monday of the holy month of Shravan to perform the sacred Jalabhishek ritual.

The temple doors were opened at 4:00 a.m., following the customary rituals, after which the Jalabhishek began. Since Sunday night, devotees from across Odisha and neighbouring states have been arriving with holy water collected from various river ghats, carrying their Kanwars to offer prayers to Lord Shiva.

Seeking the fulfilment of their wishes, devotees offered sacred water, milk, and bel (bael) leaves to Baba Chandaneswar and prayed for peace, prosperity, and blessings. The overwhelming turnout reflected the deep spiritual significance of the second Monday of Shravan, considered one of the most auspicious days for Shiva worship.

With the temple witnessing an unprecedented rush, many devotees performed their rituals and prayers in the Nat Mandap as the main sanctum remained heavily crowded. Long queues stretched from the temple premises to the main road, forcing Kanwariyas to wait for nearly two hours to offer Jalabhishek.

In view of the massive gathering, the district administration has put in place stringent security and crowd-management arrangements. Police personnel and volunteers have been deployed across the temple complex to ensure the safety of devotees and the smooth conduct of the religious festivities.