Devotees Throng Shiva Temples Across India on First Monday of Sawan

New Delhi, Aug 2026 : Shiva temples across the country witnessed a massive influx of devotees on Monday as millions of worshippers observed the first Monday of the holy month of Sawan, offering prayers, performing jalabhishek and seeking the blessings of Lord Shiva.

The first Monday of Sawan, traditionally known as Sawan Somwar, holds special religious significance for devotees of Lord Shiva. Mondays during the sacred month are widely regarded as an auspicious period for seeking spiritual peace, mental strength and relief from stress, besides praying for fulfilment of wishes and marital blessings.

This year, the holy month of Sawan began on July 30 and will continue until August 28. The month draws large numbers of devotees to Shiva temples and pilgrimage centres across the country, with Mondays witnessing particularly heavy footfall.

In Uttar Pradesh, thousands of devotees gathered in Varanasi to mark the occasion. Devotees took holy dips in the Ganga before making their way to the revered Kashi Vishwanath Temple to offer water to Lord Shiva.

The temple was beautifully decorated with flowers for the occasion. Devotees also participated in the Mangala Aarti before the temple gates opened for darshan and jalabhishek.

A devotee said that the family regularly visits the temple on Sawan Mondays to seek Lord Shiva’s blessings. Despite long queues outside the shrine, the devotee appreciated the arrangements inside the temple and said the darshan experience was satisfactory.

The large gathering also included Kanwariyas and pilgrims who had travelled to Varanasi for the auspicious occasion. The Divisional Commissioner of Varanasi Division and the Chief Executive Officer of the Kashi Vishwanath Temple showered flower petals on Kanwariyas and devotees.

Another devotee praised the arrangements, saying that despite the enormous turnout, the darshan process remained smooth and temple authorities had managed the crowd effectively.

In Uttarakhand, Haridwar also witnessed a significant gathering of Shiva devotees. At the ancient Daksha Mahadev Temple in Kankhal, devotees offered jalabhishek amid the chanting of Vedic hymns.

Located around four kilometres south of central Haridwar, the Daksha Mahadev Temple holds special significance among Shiva devotees. It is traditionally revered as the home of Lord Shiva’s in-laws.

A temple priest explained the significance of Sawan and said devotees had started arriving at the temple as early as 3 a.m. on the first Monday of the month. According to the priest, devotees believe that Lord Shiva symbolically resides at his in-laws’ home during Sawan and that prayers offered during this period carry special significance.

Devotees visiting the temple echoed this belief, describing it as a particularly important place of worship during the month of Shravan. Many said they visit the temple seeking blessings and the fulfilment of their wishes.

Jharkhand’s Baba Baidyanath Temple also witnessed a heavy rush of devotees. The famous shrine was packed with worshippers who arrived to offer prayers and perform jalabhishek on the first Monday of Sawan.

A temple priest said the crowd was particularly large on the opening Monday, with devotees arriving in significant numbers from different places.

Despite the rush, many pilgrims expressed satisfaction with the arrangements made at the temple. One devotee, visiting Baba Baidyanath Temple for the first time, said the arrangements were good despite the large crowd and expressed happiness at being able to offer prayers.

Another devotee also praised the administration for its efforts to manage the massive gathering. While acknowledging that certain areas could have been handled better, the pilgrim said the overall experience was considerably improved compared with previous years.

The first Sawan Somwar thus saw a strong display of religious devotion across major Shiva shrines, with devotees beginning the sacred month with prayers, rituals and offerings dedicated to Lord Shiva.