Deoghar: The annual Shravani Mela 2024 commenced at Baba Baidyanath Dham in Jharkhand with fervor on Sunday. Nine Tirthpurohits invoked Lord Shiva with Vedic chants to inaugurate the auspicious event, marking its official beginning.
Mithilesh Thakur, Jharkhand’s Drinking Water Minister, inaugurated the fair by cutting the ribbon. Kanwariyas, who began their journey from Sultanganj after collecting holy water, were granted entry into Deoghar. They will traverse a 10-kilometer stretch to perform Jalabhishek on the Shivalinga of Baba Baidyanath.
This year, Shravani Mela departs from tradition as it was inaugurated on July 21 at Dumma, on the Bihar-Jharkhand border, coinciding with Guru Purnima day. The festivities will span until 19 August.
Notably, this year’s Sawan month is condensed to 29 days, featuring a rare alignment of five Mondays. Additionally, auspicious yoga formations like Sarvarth Siddhi Yoga, Shiv Vas, Amrit Siddhi Yoga, and Preeti Yoga will occur during this period.
Baba Baidyanath Dham has implemented significant changes in its worship practices for this year’s Shravani Mela. Firstly, the traditional physical touch worship has been replaced with the Argha system, where devotees offer water to the Shivling without direct contact.
Secondly, the price of the Shigra Darshanam coupon, facilitating expedited access to the temple’s sanctum sanctorum for Kanwariyas, has been increased from Rs 500 to Rs 600.
To ensure a comfortable pilgrimage experience, the Deoghar administration has laid Ganga sand along the Kanwariyas’ path and established Indravarsha shelters every 10 kilometers to shield them from the sun.
Medical teams are stationed at key points to address health concerns, while facilities including toilets, clean drinking water, and accommodations have been arranged for devotees’ convenience throughout their visit.