Deoghar/Dumka/Ranchi: On the occasion of festival of Shivratri temples across the state since the very early morning got filled with devotees who lined up to pay their obeisance to Lord Shiva. At the Pahadi Mandir of the state capital from 0400hrs, the devotees had line up to offer Jala-abhishek to Lord Shiva. Apart from that in all the other temples of the state capital people since early morning were spotted offering prayers to the God. In wake of the huge rush of the devotees at Pahadi Mandir a large number of police personnel were also deployeed.
A major attraction of the capital is the Shiv Baraat which is organized by different puja organising committees. The Shiv Baraat was taken out from Ratu Road which travelled via Firyalal Chowk to finally end at the Pahadi Mandir.
The district administration had also deployed large number of police personnel to accompany the procession. A sea of devotees turned up at the Baba Baidynath Dham temple located in Deoghar district. Baba Baidynath Dham temple is also known as ‘Manokamna Ling’ and is among the 12 Jyotirlings dedicated to Lord Shiva in the country. A report from the district said that since midnight itself people had line up offer their prayers at the temple.
The Deoghar district administration ensured that the devotees lined up in a queue that stretched as far as the B Ed College to offer Jalaabhishek. Police personnel including both male and females were deployed in plain clothes. Moreover, senior officials of the police and district administration were positioned at the temple itself to keep an eye on the crowd.
However, due to the huge rush of the devotee’s police was forced to use mild force in which few devotees sustained minor injuries. The act of the police also drew criticism from Godda MP Nishikant Dubey. A team of the NDRF was also stationed at different locations in and around the temple premises while some of the jawans were also positioned in Shivganga along with a couple of boats accompanied with divers.
Deoghar also witnesses a huge turnout of visitors who line up to see the Shiv Baraat which is taken out late in the night in the city. A report from Dumka said that a large number of people offered Jala-abhishek at Baba Basukinath Dham Temple located in Jarmundi block.