Akhandalamani, July 31 UDN}: Around 40,000 Kanwariya devotees gathered at the famous shrine of Baba Akhandalamani to offer holy water during the second Monday of the sacred Shravan month. Devotees from different parts of Odisha undertook long journeys on foot, walking through rough, uneven and pothole-filled roads to reach the shrine and perform the traditional Jalabhishek ritual of Lord Shiva.
According to the long-standing traditions followed at the Akhandalamani Temple, the second Monday of Shravan witnessed a massive gathering of Kanwariyas who arrived at the shrine carrying holy water to offer to Baba Akhandalamani. In view of the huge rush of devotees, the temple authorities and the administration began preparations from midnight to ensure that the rituals and the Jalabhishek ceremony could be conducted smoothly.
The entire shrine and its surrounding areas reverberated with the chants of the devotees as thousands of Kanwariyas made their way towards the temple. The atmosphere remained spiritually charged, with devotees chanting the name of Lord Shiva and raising slogans of devotion while patiently waiting for their turn to enter the temple and offer water to the deity.
Considering the enormous gathering, elaborate security and crowd-management arrangements were put in place at the shrine. Special arrangements were made along both the road and water routes to facilitate the safe arrival and movement of devotees. Police personnel and other security forces were deployed at strategic locations, while officials closely monitored the situation throughout the day.
However, continuous rainfall and the impact of high tides led to rising water levels in the Baitarani and Salandi rivers, creating additional challenges for the administration. In view of the increased water levels and the possibility of accidents, police and fire service personnel remained alert and carried out patrolling and safety measures to ensure the safe movement of Kanwariya devotees.
Special arrangements were also reportedly made for transportation, including bus services, to assist devotees and their families. Security personnel were deployed both inside and outside the temple premises. Adequate lighting arrangements were also made around the shrine to ensure that devotees could move safely, particularly during the early morning and late-night hours.
Senior police and administrative officials remained present at the spot and supervised the overall security and crowd-management arrangements. The authorities monitored the movement of devotees and took steps to prevent overcrowding and maintain smooth access to the temple.
At the same time, some temple servitors expressed dissatisfaction over the alleged absence or inadequate presence of senior district administrative officials, magistrates, temple board representatives and other senior officials during the important religious occasion. The servitors reportedly felt that the presence of senior administrative authorities was necessary to coordinate the arrangements effectively, especially given the huge number of devotees visiting the shrine.
The continuous heavy rainfall also affected several roads connecting the shrine with surrounding areas. With the Baitarani and Salandi rivers experiencing rising water levels, devotees faced difficulties while travelling through certain routes. Poor road conditions, potholes and damaged stretches reportedly created inconvenience for Kanwariyas who had travelled long distances on foot while carrying holy water for the Jalabhishek ceremony.
Devotees reportedly encountered significant difficulties on several stretches of road, particularly at locations where large potholes and damaged surfaces had developed. Many devotees and local residents expressed the view that such roads should have been repaired before the commencement of the Shravan pilgrimage season so that the annual religious journey could be conducted more safely and conveniently.
The second Monday of Shravan witnessed an exceptionally large influx of Kanwariyas at the shrine. Despite the challenging weather conditions, heavy rain and difficult road conditions, thousands of devotees continued their journey with determination and devotion to offer holy water to Baba Akhandalamani.
The police administration had reportedly taken strict measures to ensure that the devotees could reach the shrine safely and that the religious rituals could be completed without major disruption. Preparatory meetings involving senior officials and representatives of various departments had also been held earlier to discuss arrangements for crowd control, traffic management, security, transportation and the smooth conduct of temple rituals.
Special attention was reportedly given to ensuring that the temple premises and surrounding areas remained orderly and that devotees could enter and exit the shrine in a systematic manner. However, some dissatisfaction was expressed among sections of the devotees and temple servitors regarding certain aspects of the arrangements.
Overall, the second Monday of Shravan turned into a major religious gathering at Baba Akhandalamani Temple, with nearly 40,000 Kanwariyas arriving to offer holy water. The massive turnout reflected the deep faith and devotion of Shiva devotees across Odisha, who braved rain, difficult roads and challenging travel conditions to complete their pilgrimage and seek the blessings of Baba Akhandalamani.
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