The Tourism department, Deoghar Administration, Health department and State Police have adopted several hi-tech methods to ensure convenience of devotees to lord Shiva during the one-month long Shrawani Mela commencing from July 22.
For the first time, Government has introduced 16 hours time slot arrangement for offering holy water to lord Shiva from 5am to 9pm. However, the 17th hour is for crowd under special circumstances. Kanwariyas (devotees) can perform these rituals only after obtaining wrist bands from any vendor or cyber cafés of this district by paying an amount of Rs 10 which can be activated at any 165 activation counters made at seven zones within this city.
A Suwidha Pass will then be given to the Kawariyas wherein the date and time slot hour number would be mentioned with the photograph of the devotee. Devotee’s need to wear the activated wrist band while performing the rituals which will be deactivated after the mentioned time slot is over. These activation counters will be managed by a single Temple Server connected at Nandan Pahar, the high point of Deoghar. “As many as 4, 500 to 5,000 Kawariyas can enter the temple in one slotted hour,” said Deoghar Deputy Commissioner (DC) Rahul Kumar Purwar.
“A separate pass for quick Darshan would also be provided to the devotees if necessary,” added Purwar.For proper convenience to the temple, three entry lanes have been made this year. This involves one for the Dak-bam from 7am to 12 noon.Another two lanes would be for the families from 5am to 9pm and also for the senior citizens and the the differently-abled people.
It has been noticed, 90 percent of the 100 percent devotees are unable to perform proper rituals near the Shiva linga due to the abnormal crowd creating more chances of stampede. Deoghar District administration has adapted technical facilities to avoid this rush at Baidyanath Dham. Purwar said, “Devotees would not have to enter the sanctum sanctorum for offering water and flowers on the Shivalinga as a flexible brass material adjustment has been attached directly to the Shivalinga from the entrance. Earlier every devotee had to make their way closer to the linga for pouring the water making it difficult to reach the exact point of the linga. The new arrangement will make the affair easy.” A successful trial of this technique was done by officials on April 19.
Deoghar Police is all set to provide tight security at this holy shrine till August 22. Relating to the Bodhgaya incident, Deoghar Superintendent of Police (SP) Prabhat Kumar said, “After the Bodhgaya incident, Deoghar is a vulnerable location. As special security provisions we have strengthened our intelligence department. As many as 50 to 60 Close Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras are installed across the town including parking zones, bus stands, railways platforms and temple premises. We have got 5,500 defence personnel against our demand for 6125 forces people. This comprises two companies of Rapid Action Force and one platoon of NDRC from Kolkata. They will be deployed at the Darshan points and near temple entrance complex Nehru Park.”
“Keeping the naxal treat in consideration, Jharkhand Jaguar Companies have been deployed at the two borders adjoining Deoghar district namely Giridih and Jamui. Around 53 trainee Deputy SPs and 250 Sub-Inspectors would also be deployed besides the constables. Within the temple security personnel would be deployed in civil dress and some in uniform,” added Kumar.
Officials claim that last year around 60 lakh devotees were witnessed at this shrine during this holy season. For the health management of the devotees, the State Health department Principal Secretary K Vidyasagar held a meeting with Deoghar district officials on Wednesday. “Overall 100 doctors would take care of the health provisions. This includes 75 government doctors. Moreover, 250 Para medicos and two Food Safety Officers are deployed. On Thursday, we notified that all the 100 doctors would also be working as food safety officers. Food testing mobile laboratories have also been made in the city,” said DC Purwar.
In order to manage the traffic system, district administration has divided the public and private vehicle parking at restricted areas within the city. Few kilometers outside the temple will be a no parking zone.