The popular Shravani Mela saw thousands throng to the Pahari Mandir on Tuesday for its start. Vedic incantations resounded throughout the area as devotees offered water to Shiva.
The temple was decorated beautifully with numerous stalls offering the paraphernalia of worship.
Anita Devi, who came to pray at Pahari temple, said, “I have been visiting the temple for the past three years during the festival to seek blessings. They say Shiva fulfils the desire of every devotee who comes here and offer prayers. I have come along with my family to offer water to him.”
Another devotee, Ratna Devi, said, “I have come with my husband all the way from Tamar, which is 58 km from the Capital, for the first time. We were expecting a hassle inside the temple, considering the crowd. However, we were in for a pleasant surprise. We were able to worship and seek darshan properly.”
At one of the stalls, Purshottam Das said, “Till now, more than 100 puja thals have been sold. A puja thal comprises flowers, belpatra, bhang, honey, chandan, majistha, roli, sindur and bhog and can cost between `50 to 500.”
Besides puja stalls, a sugarcane juice stall was also crowded. Sugarcane juice is also offered to Shiva, along with water and milk, during this season and is in great demand.
Ramu Singh, a sugarcane stall owner, said, “In shravani month, pilgrims offer sugarcane juice as it is believed to fulfil wishes. Juice which is generally sold at `10 per glass is now being sold for `25. The prices soar during this season every year.”
Pahari Mandir Vikas Samiti founder member Daya Shankar Bunty said, “The first day of the Shravani mela was peaceful amid tight security. Though we have tried to organise everything systematically, there were certain hitches. For instance, there was need for a metal detector and for properly trained police personnel, having rehearsed crowd control.”
More than 100 security personnel, 60 volunteers and around 30 NCC cadets are assisting devotees 24x7 on temple premises.