Deoghar – The holy month of Sawan began with divine energy in Deoghar as the world-famous Shravani Mela was inaugurated at Baba Baidyanath Dham on Thursday. Lakhs of Kanwariyas, barefoot and chanting “Bol Bam,” have begun their 108 km pilgrimage from Sultanganj to the Jyotirlinga shrine.
The fair’s formal inauguration took place at Dumma with a Vedic ceremony, in the presence of Jharkhand ministers. Baba Baidyanath, also known as Kamna Mahadev, is one of India’s holiest Shaivite destinations.
To accommodate the expected 50–60 lakh devotees, the government has created tent cities, medical units, information kiosks, and sanitation hubs along the route.
The fair has gone digital this year with QR codes and chatbot support for real-time updates. Meanwhile, VIP access and touch worship are suspended to ensure equal opportunity and smooth crowd flow. Devotees will offer water using the traditional Argha system.
With enhanced security, hygiene, and crowd control in place, the Shravani Mela promises a spiritually enriching and well-managed experience for all pilgrims.
With inputs from IANS