Shatrughn Prasad
Deoghar
The sacred city of Baba Baidyanath in Deoghar was immersed in devotion to Lord Shiva on Tuesday as the Rajkiya Shravani Mela 2026 entered its 20th day. Despite light rain since the morning, thousands of Kanwariyas and Shiva devotees continued to throng the temple and mela area, maintaining the festive atmosphere with chants of “Bol Bam” and “Har Har Mahadev”.
The day’s rituals began at 5 am when the doors of the Baba Baidyanath Temple were opened and Kanwariyas started offering holy water to the deity. As the doors of the sanctum sanctorum opened, devotees waiting for darshan and jalabhishek expressed their devotion with enthusiasm.
A long queue of Kanwariyas extended from the B.Ed. College as devotees moved steadily towards the temple in an orderly manner. The light showers did little to affect their spirit, with pilgrims continuing to chant slogans in praise of Baba Baidyanath throughout the route.
The district administration had made extensive arrangements for the safety, security and convenience of devotees. Magistrates, police personnel and security forces were deployed at key points across the mela area and along the designated routes to regulate the movement of pilgrims and ensure a smooth jalabhishek.
The administration also maintained continuous surveillance of the crowd and security arrangements through CCTV cameras and the central control room. Officials remained stationed at various locations to monitor the movement of devotees and respond promptly to any situation.
