Mondays in the month of Sawan are considered extremely auspicious, during which devotees observe a fast and worship Lord Shiva in Shiva temples, also known as 'Jyotirlingas' across the country. Be it Amarnath caves in Jammu and Kashmir, Mahakal Temple in Ujjain or Baithdyanath Dham in Deoghar of Bihar, devotees light lamps, take holy dips and offer prayers.
Going by the Hindu mythology, it is believed that Lord Shiva had chosen Goddess Parvati as his wife in this month of Sawan. This is why the month is dedicated to both Shiva and Parvati. It is a belief that Lord Shiva is easily pleased during the fifth month of the Hindu calendar.
Observing the social distancing norms amid the Coronavirus pandemic, devotees in cities had to stay outside the temples this time in order to avoid large gatherings inside the premises. Various measures such as sanitization and checking temperature of devotees was carried out to contain the spread of deadly COVID-19 virus.
First Monday of Sawan In Pictures
This year, the 'Sawan Somwar' was observed in five Jyotirlingas in Delhi, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and Haryana. Here are some visuals from various temples across India where devotees were seen offering prayers to Lord Shiva on the first Monday of the holy month of Sawan.
National Capital Delhi witnessed hundreds of devotees offering prayers at Gauri Shankar Temple in Chandni Chowk on the first Monday of 'sawan' month. According to the reports, the authorities checked temperature of devoteeswith thermometer gun, as a precautionary measure to contain the spread of novel disease.
In Varanasi, devotees offered prayers to Shiva by taking a holy dip in river Ganga on the first Monday of 'sawan' month.
The Mahakaleshwar Temple in Maharashtra's Ujjain witnessed people praying to Lord Shiva by performing 'Aarti'.
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In Jharkhand, since the state government has extended lockdown, devotees were forced to offer prayers from outside Shiva temples as portals of Pahari Mandir in Ranchi remain closed on the first Monday of 'sawan' month.
Haryana's famous Saketri Shiva temple in Panchkula also saw devotees lining up in temples on the first Monday of the holy month.