By Girish Kumar Dubey
Devotees turned out in large numbers to offer prayers at the Lord Shiva (Hindu god) temple in Varanasi of India's northern Uttar Pradesh state on the last Monday (August 08) of the ongoing holy month of Shravan (monsoon), which is regarded to be an auspicious period in the Hindu calendar.
The Kashi Vishwanath-Gyanvapi Complex in Varanasi acquired a blazing orange hue, when Kanwariyas (Hindu pilgrims) dressed in saffron attire recited religious hymns and performed rituals.
The district administration and police tightened the security, so as to avert any untoward incident.
"There is a lot of significance behind the last Monday of 'Shravan' (monsoon festival).This is the most important jyotirlingam (shrine)out of the 12 jyotirlingams in the country. If you visit this shrine once in your lifetime, everything would be prosperous in the future," said Ravi Shankar Shukla, a devotee.
Kanwariyas, devout worshippers of Lord Shiva performed various rituals and travelled several miles with an aim to take part in the celebrations that would be held at the Varanasi temple.
"Today is the last Monday of Sawan and it is considered to be a very auspicious day. This is the reason why we come here every year. In fact, we feel very good when we come here. People come here every year in large numbers, only to worship Lord Shiva," said Pramod, a Hindu pilgrim.
Meanwhile, people in other parts of the country have also geared up to celebrate the last Monday of the monsoon festival with fervour and gaiety.
A traditional ritual known as 'Bhoot ki Baraat' or a 'procession of ghostly spirits' is taken out every year during this period.
The devotees dance to religious tunes and offer prayers to Hindu God, Lord Shiva. This procession is organised by Kawar Sewa Samiti every year and several Hindu pilgrims take part in the procession.
It is believed that devotees can get an opportunity to see the spirits.
According to the Hindu almanac, the month of 'Shravan' usually falls between July and August. During this month, a large number of kanwariyas walk to the banks of the River Ganges in Haridwar town of northern Uttar Pradesh state to fetch the holy water.
They carry it back in their decorated pots to their hometowns, where it is offered to the Hindu deity, Lord Shiva at various temples and religious places.
Over the years, as the number of pilgrims increased manifold, so has the business of making 'kanwars.'
Devotees turn out in large numbers to offer prayers at the Lord Shiva (Hindu god) temple in India's northern Uttar Pradesh state on the last Monday of the ongoing holy month of Shravan (monsoon), regarded to be an auspicious period in the Hindu calendar.
PLEASE NOTE THIS EDIT CONTAINS CONVERTED 4:3 MATERIAL
VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (AUGUST 08, 2011) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC)
1. DEVOTEES STANDING
2. DEVOTEES PERFORMING A RITUAL
3. DEVOTEES TAKING A HOLY DIP IN THE GANGES RIVER
4. EXTERIOR OF A TEMPLE
5. DEVOTEES STANDING OUTSIDE A TEMPLE
6. DEVOTEES STANDING IN A QUEUE
7. KANWARIYAS (HINDU PILGRIMS) STANDING IN A QUEUE
8. DEVOTEES STANDING IN A QUEUE
9. DEVOTEES SHOUTING SLOGANS
10. HINDU PILGRIMS STANDING
11. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) RAVI SHANKAR SHUKLA, A DEVOTEE, SAYING:
"There is a lot of significance behind the last Monday of 'Shravan' (monsoon festival). This is the most important jyotirlingam (shrine) out of the 12 jyotirlingams in the country. If you visit this shrine once in your lifetime, everything would be prosperous in the future."
12. DEVOTEES WALKING ON A STREET
13. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) PRAMOD, A HINDU PILGRIM, SAYING:
"Today is the last Monday of Sawan and it is considered to be a very auspicious day. This is the reason why we come here every year. In fact, we feel very good when we come here. People come here every year in large numbers, only to worship Lord Shiva."
14. HINDU PILGRIMS STANDING
MORADABAD, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (AUGUST 07, 2011) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC)
15. A DEVOTEE DANCING
16. A DEVOTEE DRESSED UP AS LORD SHIVA
17. DEVOTEES DANCING
18. A WOMAN DANCING TO A SONG
19. A DEVOTEE PERFORMING A RITUAL
20. DEVOTEES DRESSED UP AS GHOSTS
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