Thousands of Kaudias (Bol Bam devotees) made a beeline holding holy water in containers to pour on lord Shiva as offerings at the lingaraj Temple here on the first Monday of sacred month of Shravan.In fact, the Shiva temples across the State have tuned into hubs for Kaudias.
In the morning, the devotees, after walking long distances, stood in long queues at the lingaraj Temple to pour water brought from holy rivers in containers (made of clay or brass or copper) attached to a bamboo stick decorated with several accessories assumed to be adorable to the lord. The special prayer and offerings paid to the lord during the month of Shravan are believed to bring great results for the devotees.
large numbers of women devotees also waited in the queues.
Elaborate arrangements were made by volunteers on roadsides and highways for the Kaudias for their halt and food services at several places.
The crowds will continue every Mondays during the month till Rakhi Purnima or Gamha Purnima.
This is called Kaudia Yatra or Bol Bam Yatra or Kanwar Yatra. The Kaudia pilgrims walk to their destinations chanting various names of lord Shiva. They observe the month without shaving and take only Satwik Aahar (complete vegetarian food without onion and garlic).
