Puri, Aug. 3 (UDN): The Lokanath Temple in Puri witnessed a sea of devotees on the first Monday of the holy month of Sawan as worshippers gathered from across Odisha to seek the blessings of Lord Lokanath, a revered form of Lord Shiva.
From the early hours of the morning, long queues formed outside the temple, with Kanwariyas, local residents and pilgrims patiently waiting for their turn to offer holy water, bel leaves and flowers to the deity. The atmosphere resonated with the chants of “Har Har Mahadev” and devotional hymns, adding to the spiritual fervour of the occasion.
Temple rituals were conducted as per tradition under the supervision of the servitors, while the administration made elaborate arrangements to manage the heavy influx of devotees. Security personnel were deployed at key locations, and crowd management measures were put in place to ensure a smooth and orderly darshan.
Many devotees observed fasts and participated in special prayers, considering the first Monday of Sawan to be one of the most auspicious days dedicated to Lord Shiva. They prayed for the well-being, prosperity and happiness of their families.
With thousands expected to visit the shrine throughout the day, temple authorities appealed to devotees to follow the prescribed guidelines and cooperate with officials for the smooth conduct of rituals and darshan.
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