1 2 3 Prayagraj: Observing third Shrawan ‘somwar’ (Monday), devotees in large numbers thronged various temples of the city on Monday. The temples reverberated with the chants of ‘Bam Bam Bhole’ and ‘ Har Har Mahadev ’. Although every small and big temple of Lord Shiva witnessed a heavy rush of devotees, the maximum rush was witnessed in the Mankameshwar temple and Padila Mahadeo temple at Phaphamau, where devotees queued up since early morning.
The devotees offered milk, honey, sandalwood paste, and leaves of Bel (wood apple) on ‘shivlings’. An equal rush was witnessed at the temple of Shivkuti. A large number of kanwariyas also gathered at Lord Shiva temples to offer holy water.
Throwing light on the importance of Somwar, the head priest of Gauriya Math of the city, Anil Mishra, said that it is believed that Lord Shiva showers blessings on all those who remember him with a true heart. This is one of the reasons that motivate lakhs of Shiva devotees, especially kanwariyas, to travel hundreds of kilometres on bare foot and offer prayers at the Shiva ‘jyotirlinga’. Among the popular ones is the Padila Mahadeo near Phaphamau and Lord Vishwanath in Varanasi.
Mondays, or Somvar, in the month of Shrawan are considered highly auspicious for praying to Lord Shiva. Millions of devout Hindus observe the Shrawan Somwar vrat. On the occasion, volunteers of Sri Sathya Sai Seva Samiti performed offered ‘sharbat’ to the devotees coming to Mankameshwar temple near Sar.