The Deoghar district administration has commenced its preparations for month-long Shravani Mela.  The month-long Shravani Mela, attended by lakhs of people every year, is expected to start from July 17 this year and will conclude on August 14. Keeping in mind the huge pilgrim rush during Shravani Mela, the Deoghar district administration has started preparations.

Like previous years, this year too there will be no special or VIP entry of devotees. Deoghar Deputy Commissioner (DC), Rahul Kumar Sinha said, “Like previous years, this year too there will be no special or VIP entry. In the doors of Baba Baidyanath every one is equal. There is no discrimination between rich and poor. Every one whomsoever he or she may be judges, bureaucrats, businessmen or politicians they have to stand in queue for paying obeisance.”The Deoghar district administration in 2015 removed the concept of special or VIP entry for devotees after the temple administration received complaints that some influential people in connivance of temple priests are making special entry due to which the devotees had to suffer.

Apart from no VIP culture puja, this year too there will be arghya system.  Arghya system enables the pilgrims to do 'jalabhishek' from a distance through a pipeline without actually touching the 'shivling' (idol).

Baba Baidyanath dham or Baidyanath Jyotirlinga temple in Deoghar is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, the most sacred abodes of Lord Shiva. Every year in the month of Shravan, devotees carrying holy water from Ganga in Sultanganj reaches Deoghar barefoot covering a distance of 110 km to pay their obeisance to Lord Shiva.

The DC said, “Arrangements for Sharavani Mela s going on war footing pace. The construction of Kawariya path is going on. Sand will be laid on the routes with regular sprinkle of water so that the devotees don’t face any type of inconvenience.”   As the Kawariya path covers Bihar and Jharkhand the administrations of several districts are involved in making preparations. On the route, arrangements of drinking water, toilets and yatri niwas (accommodation stay) will be made.

The Deoghar district administration this time has decided to introduce the system of integrated mela control room through which coordination of entire mela will be made. More than 300 CCTVs cameras, 25 drone cameras will be installed.

The district administration will also put up two helium balloons. This year the district administration has decided to have Deoghar darshan for devotees through which devotees can know about the ancient, mythological, and historical importance of Deoghar and Baba Baidyanath. Last year, there was 12 Jyotilingas, char dham darshan.

Apart from Deoghar district administration, the State Government too has pepped up for Shravani Mela preparations.

Last week, Chief Secretary DK Tiwari reviewed the preparations for the Shravani Mela asking the secretaries of all the departments concerned to visit Deoghar this month itself and make assessment of preparations at the ground level.