Third Sawan Somwar: Devotees Throng Kashi Vishwanath, Other Lord Shiva Temples Across The Country
Devotees across the country thronged Lord Shiva temples on Monday to offer prayers and Jalabhishek on the occasion of third Sawan Somwar.
From the sacred Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi to the revered Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain, temples saw long queues of devotees paying obeisance to Lord Shiva.
At Kashi Vishwanath, the sanctum was adorned with floral decorations. A grand Mangla Aarti was performed in the early hours drawing large crowds.
District Magistrate of Varanasi, Satyendra Kumar, along with the Kashi Vishwanath Temple CEO, Vishwa Bhushan Mishra, were seen showering flowers on the Kanwariyas who waited patiently in long queues for darshan.
“The third Monday of Sawan saw a marked increase in the number of devotees,” said Mishra. “Since Sawan begins 15 days later in South India, today marked the first Monday for many Southern devotees. In anticipation, we had implemented advance barricading, erected German hangars, and set up medical help desks along with distribution of ORS and glucose,” he added.
Assistant Commissioner of Police, Ishan Soni, confirmed that high-level security arrangements, including drone surveillance, were in place. “We adopted a stakeholder approach, ensuring coordination with local markets and service providers to maintain smooth operations,” he said.
One devotee shared, “We’ve been waiting since morning. The crowd is immense, but the spiritual atmosphere and the sight of Baba Vishwanath make it all worthwhile.”
A temple priest explained the sacred significance of the site, stating, “Two Shivlings here — Dashashwamedh Mahadev and Brahmeshwar Mahadev — are especially revered. Kanwariyas first offer water at these sites before proceeding to Baba Vishwanath.”
Similar scenes unfolded at the Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain, where thousands gathered for the Bhasma Aarti and Jalabhishek. The air reverberated with devotional chants and the ringing of bells.
In Prayagraj, devotees gathered at the Triveni Sangam to take holy dips before heading to nearby Shiva temples to offer prayers. Teerth Purohit Gopal Das noted, “Bathing at the Sangam followed by offerings to Lord Shiva brings special blessings.”
Ayodhya SP Chakrapani Tripathi said, “Since 3 a.m., devotees have been offering Jalabhishek at Kshireshwar Nath and Nageshwar Nath temples using sacred water from the Saryu. All necessary arrangements have been made for their convenience and safety.”
