Kanwariyas throng Shiva shrines across Odisha on second Sawan Monday

'Shiva Shiva' chants echoed all around in Odisha as Kanwariyas, chanting “Bhole Baba Paar Karega”, thronged the Lord Shiva shrines with water pots on their shoulders. Today marks the second Monday of Sawan month, a significant day for Shiva worshippers.

 From Dhabaleswar to Lokanath, from Aradi to Ladu Baba, long queues of Kanwariyas were seen lining up to offer water to Lord Shiva. Shaiva shrines across the state vibrated with “Bol Bam Har Har Bam” slogans, and necessary preparations were made to accommodate the devotees. Thousands of mentally vowed Kanwariyas gathered at temples to perform Jalabhishek.

Over 50,000 Gather At Lokanath Temple In Puri

At Lokanath Temple in Puri, over 50,000 Kanwariyas assembled to worship Lord Lokanath. According to reports, a massive queue stretched for nearly 1.5 kilometres from the temple as people waited patiently to get a glimpse of the Lord. Darshan began at midnight on Sunday, and devotees have been continuously thronging the shrine since. Offerings were made, and a long queue still remains as more devotees wait to offer holy water.

Lord Lokanath Believed To Heal Ailments And End Sorrow

Lord Lokanath is believed to cure all health ailments, and devotees say that his darshan brings freedom from sorrow. He is also considered the bodily counterpart to Lord Jagannath, who symbolises the soul. As such, both deities are viewed as two sides of a coin representing the human experience.

Devotees Offer Body Parts In Gold, Silver And Bronze

Rabi Narayan Panda, a servitor at Lokanath Temple, said, “It is widely believed that Lord Lokanath heals all health ailments. For this reason, people vow to offer body parts, including nail and hair, made of bronze, silver, and gold to the Lord once their wish and prayer come true.”

Thousands Flock To Dhabaleswar Shrine

Meanwhile, thousands of Kanwariya devotees gathered at Dhabaleswar shrine in Cuttack to offer water to Lord Dhabaleswar. Devotees lit diyas and offered water at the temple. Due to the large crowd, appointed cleaners worked constantly to maintain hygiene in and around the shrine premises.