First Monday of Sawan: Devotees across the country on Monday offered prayer to Lord Shiva on the first Monday of the month of Sawan.

Devotees thronged Nageshwar Shiv temple in Kanpur and the Daksha Prajapati Shiv temple in Haridwar to worship Mahadev. Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain is decked up and the queue of devotees started after the midnight on the first Monday of Shrawan month. Bhasm Arti was performed at Ujjain Mahakaleswar temple with full zeal.

Devotees offered prayers at Gauri Shankar Temple at Chandni Chowk in the national capital.

Devotees also thronged the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi.

Huge number of devotees in Deoghar Baba Baba Temple. More than a lakh Kavadias are still waiting in queue to offer prayers in Deoghar on the first Monday of the Shravani Mela. The queue of devotees has stretched for over 10 kilometres.

#WATCH | Huge number of devotees in Deoghar Baba Baba Temple. More than a lakh Kavadias are still waiting in queue to offer prayers in #Deoghar on the first Monday of the Shravani Mela. The queue of devotees has stretched for ten kilometres.#ShravaniMela pic.twitter.com/Nx2I4Wt3xz

— DD News (@DDNewslive) July 10, 2023

In Gorakhpur, devotees offered prayers at Mahadev Jharkhandi Shiv Temple on the occasion.

Auspicious month for Hindus

Sawan month in considered auspicious for Hindus in India and all over the world for its religious importance and significance. As the monsoon has entered most parts of the country, the holy month of Shrawan is set to begin from July 4 and will continue for two months till August 31 owing to the month of ‘Malamas’ also called ‘Adhik Mas’.

This month elongation is rare and occur after almost two decades. The elongation is occurred due to the inclusion of ‘Malamas’month,an additional month inserted into Hindu calendar to maintain synchronisation with the lunar cycle.

This year the celebration of Sawan will be continued for two months compared to the usual duration. Therefore, instead of the four Mondays and four Tuesdays dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, 2023 has eight Mondays and eight Tuesdays. This is the golden chance for devotees to express their feelings and devotion to their God.