Shravani Mela is a month-long Hindu festival observed in the month of Shravan (July–August) at the Baba Baidyanath Dham temple in Deoghar, Jharkhand, India. This festival is one of the largest religious gatherings in India, attracting millions of devotees, primarily the Kanwariyas, who undertake a pilgrimage to offer holy water from the Ganges to Lord Shiva.
Significance
Shravani Mela is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is considered highly auspicious. The pilgrimage, also known as the Kanwar Yatra, involves devotees collecting water from the Ganges at Ajgaibinath Dham, Sultanganj and carrying it on foot over a distance of approximately 105 km to the Baba Baidyanath temple in Deoghar. The journey symbolizes devotion, penance, and purification.
Rituals
- Devotees, known as Kanwariyas, wear saffron-colored clothes and carry the holy water in pots balanced on a decorated bamboo structure called a Kanwar.
- The pilgrimage starts from Ajgaibinath Dham, Sultanganj, where the Ganges flows northward, making it sacred for collecting water.
- The devotees walk barefoot and are not allowed to place the Kanwar on the ground during the journey.
- Upon reaching Deoghar, they perform Abhishek (ritual bathing) of the Shiva Linga at Baba Baidyanath temple with the sacred water.
Major Attractions
- Baba Baidyanath Temple – One of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva.
- Shivganga Lake – A sacred pond near the temple where devotees take a dip before offering prayers.
- Basukinath Temple – A significant temple visited by pilgrims after offering prayers at Baidyanath Dham.
See also
References
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- ^ "Deoghar Authorities Ensure Smooth Shravani Mela". News18. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
- ^ "Tales from 'Shravani Mela'". The Hindu. 2019-08-21. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
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- ^ "Month-long Shravani mela begins in Deoghar". Daily Pioneer. 2024-07-23. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
- ^ Tripathi, R.K. (2019). Sacred Journeys in Hinduism. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-9391125356.
- ^ Verma, Amit (2020). "Religious Gatherings and Social Harmony". Indian Journal of Cultural Studies. 52 (2): 87–99.
- ^ "Saffron tide of faithful on 110-km trek". The Telegraph India. 2004-08-30. Retrieved 2025-02-01.
- ^ "The Kanwariya Tradition in India". BBC News. 2022-07-30. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
- ^ "Jharkhand Government Prepares for Shravani Mela". The Hindu. 2023-07-25. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
- ^ Sharma, Anita (2021). "Sacred Geography of Indian Pilgrimages". Journal of Religious Studies. 45 (3): 112–127.
- ^ Chakraborty, M. (2020). Hindu Festivals and Pilgrimages. Routledge. ISBN 978-8183154826.
- ^ "Thousands Perform Abhishek at Baba Baidyanath Dham". Hindustan Times. 2023-08-10. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
- ^ Singh, D.P. (2018). Jyotirlingas of India. Penguin Random House. ISBN 978-0143470106.
- ^ "Sacred Ponds in Hinduism". Retrieved 2024-02-01.
- ^ "Basukinath Temple: A Pilgrim's Guide". NDTV. 2023-08-15. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
