Sacred city of Deoghar has once again become a colourful city of beliefs with more than 2.3 million devotees visiting Baba Baidyanath Dham temple in the auspicious month of Shravan. This massive gathering indicates how legitimate people feel about Lord Shiva, especially at this holiest time of the Hindu calendar.
Millions of pilgrims, Kanwariyas, wearing saffron and carrying colored kanwars, go barefoot more than 100 kilometres from Sultanganj (Bihar), where the Ganga itself flows to the north, to pour holy water at Jyotirlinga at Baidyanath Dham every year. This is a form of devotion practiced, called Jalabhishek, with the idea of obtaining divine blessing and merit. The spiritual fervour was unmatched this year as pilgrims trooped in to participate regardless of their failures, such as downpour, long distances, tiredness, among other issues.
Of all the devotees, 64,631 took advantage of Shighra Darshanam, a fast-track darshan arrangement that granted access to the sanctum sanctorum with a small fee. This was to help the temple authorities cope with the big population so that congestion could be controlled during heavy days. Many areas also had the offering system converted to a computerized format so as to become transparent and convenient.
At the Baidyanath temple, 2.39 crore worth of offerings were made during the Shravan Mela. Such gifts not only represent the spiritual worth assigned to the pilgrimage but also the massive economic activity that the pilgrimage brings into existence in the area. Hotels, eateries, shops and transport operators in the area were able to reap a lot as a result of the pilgrims. Rudraksha beads, sacred threads, sweets, and souvenirs related to religion were also sold in the temporary stands on the roads leading to the temple to contribute to the festive mood.
District administrations in Deoghar made huge arrangements beforehand. The Jharkhand government and the local municipal bodies, through the volunteers, made the sanitation, drinking water, shelter and medical aid arrangements very smooth. There was also 24-hour security. New barricades were made, as well as mobile toilets, along with health camps at various points. Surveillance by drones and a special police force were also featured in order to keep everything under control and manage emergencies.
There were long queues, and it was raining, but the spirit of the devotees was not shaken. All there was the sound of the chant of Bol Bam, drumbeat and temple bells resonating down the streets of Deoghar. The rich religious spirit not only establishes a cult-like atmosphere but also strengthens the important cultural and spiritual meaning of the temple in the Indian religious space.
With the passing of Shravan, Deoghar waves goodbye to millions of pilgrims who not only bring water but also a lot of faith and commitment. The fact that the Mela has already managed to go through this year successfully proves that the city can deal with a gathering of such magnitude, and the fact that it has continued to remain as a lighthouse of Hindu spirituality.
