Each year, during the holy month of Shrawan during Monsoon, devotees in many states undertake Kanwar Yatra to collect water from the Ganga and other rivers and offer it at the temples of Lord Shiva in major pilgrim centers.
Baidyanath Nagri Deoghar is an important Hindu pilgrimage site. It is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas and one of the 51 Shaktipeeths, and is famous for the fair of Shravan, the fourth month according to the Hindu calendar system. It is one of the few places in India where Jyotirlinga and Shaktipeeth are situated next to each other.
Shravani Mela starts in the month of July and ends in August. The importance of Baba Dham increases in the month of Shravan. During this, Lakhs of devotees come to Baba Baidyanath Dham for holy darshan. It is the longest religious fair in the world. In the month of Sawan in Baidyanath Nagri Deoghar, there is a crowd of Shiva devotees, the whole area is covered with Shiva devotees wearing saffron clothes.
Devotees of Lord Bholenath come here on their journey to Kanwar by filling water from the Ganges flowing into the Ganges of Sultanganj. However, many devotees, who are physically unable to cover this distance on foot, also come directly to Baba Baidyanath temple to perform Jalabhishek by vehicles.
Kanwarias in the eastern region undertake a 120-km trek carrying Ganga water from Sultanganj in Bihar to offer it to Lord Shiva at the Deoghar Temple(Babadham/baidyanathdham) in Jharkhand. The Ganges flows northwards at At this place the devotees collect Ganga water in their and from this place carry the holy Ganga water along with the on their shoulders. On the way, they recites Bol Bam – Bol Bam.
Kanwariyas first enter Shivaganga, and then enter the Baba Baidyanath temple, where Ganga water is offered to the Jyotirlingam. This pilgrimage lasts for 30 days during the entire Shravan month from July to August.
Facilities
Free food and medicines are provided to the Kanwariyas round the clock in the camps during the Shravani Mela. Along with the government, private organizations also take an active part in the service of Kanwariyas. Throughout the journey route, you can find several wooden stands at regular intervals where pilgrims can rest their kanwars. After reaching the Baidyanath Nagari, Deoghar, devotees get into a long waiting queue according to the number of pilgrims available for darshan. The temple management and district administration also provide fast darshanam facility on payment basis. Once the devotees complete the Jalabhishek at Baba Baidyanath Temple, they proceed to perform Jalabhishek at Baba Basukinath Temple which is in Dumka District, about 45 km from Baidyanath Nagari, Deoghar.
Rules
There are many rules for pilgrims in the month of Shravan. All the pilgrims coming in the month of Shravan must follow certain rules.
- Vegetarianism
- celibacy
- Truthfull
- Accuracy of speech and thought
- Alcohol and smoking should be avoided.
- Avoid using oils, soaps, shoes and leather items.
- Avoid planting Kanwar on the ground.
Precautions
- Always beware of pickpockets.
- Do not wear or keep any kind of precious jewelery (gold or diamond etc.) during the journey or in the temple premises.
- Do not believe the rumours at all. Find out the right information.
- In case of theft or conflict, contact the nearest policy station.
- Don’t crowd unnecessarily.
- Maintain a queue while entering the temple hall
- Follow all the instructions given by the officials.
- Stay safe from a stampede by keeping yourself calm.