Bhubaneswar, August 3: Thousands of devotees thronged major Shiva shrines across Odisha on Monday, the first Monday of the holy month of Shravan, to offer 'Jalabhishek' to Lord Shiva. From the early hours, long queues of Kanwariyas carrying holy water from various rivers were seen making their way to prominent Shiva temples across the state.

Devotees, many of whom walked barefoot for several kilometres with the traditional 'Bahunga' balanced on their shoulders, offered holy water to Lord Shiva with unwavering faith and devotion. The ritual holds immense religious significance, as devotees believe that offering water to Lord Shiva during Shravan fulfils their wishes and brings divine blessings. Many Kanwariyas begin observing religious vows and rituals weeks in advance before undertaking the annual pilgrimage.

At the famous Sri Sri Lokanath Temple in Puri, a massive gathering of Kanwariya devotees was witnessed since late Sunday night. Carrying holy water, devotees entered the temple through barricaded queues arranged by the administration and performed 'Jalabhishek' on Lord Lokanath. It is believed that offering water on all four Mondays of Shravan helps devotees overcome ailments and fulfil their wishes.

Keeping the large footfall of devotees in mind, the administration made elaborate security arrangements at the shrine. A total of 13 platoons of police force were deployed, along with three Additional SPs, 10 DSPs, 17 Inspectors, and 66 ASIs and SIsto ensure smooth darshan, crowd control and security.

Similar scenes of devotion were witnessed at the renowned Ladu Baba Temple in Sarankul, Nayagarh district, where more than 6,000 Kanwariya devotees offered holy water by the morning hours, while many others remained in queues waiting for their turn. The temple opened at 3 a.m., and after completion of the daily rituals, Jalabhishek began at 4 a.m. Devotees from different parts of the state brought holy water from Kantilo, Cuttack and various rivers across Odisha to offer it to the deity as part of their religious vows.

At the historic Dhabaleswar Temple in Cuttack district, devotees also gathered in large numbers to offer holy water to Lord Dhabaleswar. The temple doors were opened at 4 a.m., following which the prescribed rituals were performed before devotees were allowed to offer water to the sacred Shiva Lingam.

As the Dhabaleswar shrine is located on an island in the Mahanadi River, special safety measures were taken by the administration. Security personnel were deployed at various river ghats, while teams from the Fire Services Department and ODRAF (Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force) were stationed to handle any emergency situation. Barricades and regulated entry systems were put in place at the temple to ensure orderly darshan and the safe movement of devotees.

With a heavy rush of pilgrims expected throughout the holy month, the state administration has made elaborate security arrangements at major river ghats, pilgrimage centres and Shaivite shrines. Police personnel have been deployed at key locations to regulate crowds, ensure orderly darshan and facilitate the smooth conduct of rituals during the Shravan festivities.