First Monday of Shravan Month: Silence in Baba Baidyanath Dham , entry of common devotees completely closed

Deoghar: Despite Monday being the ‘First Somvari ‘ of the auspicious month of Shravan the Baba Baidyanath Dham Temple which is one among the twelve Jyotirlings dedicated to Lord Shiva in the country wore a deserted look as a complete ban has been imposed on entry of devotees inside the temple in wake of Coronavirus pandemic.

Like last year’s Shravan, this time also there was silence in Baba Vaidyanath Dham.

Some devotees had come up for worship in the morning, but they were not allowed to enter the temple as police personnel have been deployed to prevent the devotees from coming to the temple. For the devotees, the district administration has made arrangements for live darshan from the temple.

Before Coronavirus set in the world famous Shravani Mela was being organized jointly in Bihar and Jharkhand. During the month devotees popularly know as Kanwariyas carry Ganga water from Sultanganj in Bihar and reach Baba Baidyanath temple in Deoghar while traveling a distance of nearly 108 kilometres on foot. After this the water is offered as Jala-bhishek to Baba Baidyanath. Due to Corona, Shravani Mela-2021 has not being organized and last year also the fair was not held due to Corona.

Devotees are disappointed with the Shravani Mela not being held and they not being allowed to enter the Baba Baidyanath temple. According to Deoghar DC Manjunath Bhajantri, one can visit Baba online on the government’s website jhargov.in, Deoghar Deputy Commissioner, PRD Deoghar’s Facebook page and district administration website https://deoghar.nic.in/. Worship of Baba Baidyanath will be shown live from 4.45 am to 5.30 am. The evening Shringar Puja will be broadcast on all platforms from 7.30 to 8.15 pm.

Meanwhile Police personnel have been deployed on Bihar-Jharkhand border. Despite restrictions some devotees were still seen coming and to stop them, the administration has made arrangements at many levels. Special security arrangements have been made at Dumma, the entrance gate of Jharkhand located on Kanwaria Path there the magistrate and police force have been deployed for 24 hours a day.

Along with this, vehicles of Kanwariyas are also being stopped from entering Deoghar city at Dardmara, Rikhia, Budhwakura, Khijuria, Kothia, Chaupamod, Thadhi Mor. On Monday too, there was a strict police guard here. To stop the Kanwariyas in Dumma, an iron barricade and a bamboo barrier have been installed. Monday has special significance in the month of Shravan for worshipping Lord Shiva but due to Corona, devotees are not being allowed to worship on Mondays and only government worship (Sarkari Puja) is being done in Baba Baidyanath temple.