CM Samrat Choudhary Opens Sewa Shivir for Kanwar Yatra at Sultanganj
Synopsis
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary inaugurated a sewa shivir on the Kanwariya Path in Sultanganj on July 28, 2026, pledging full state support — security, health, sanitation, and drinking water — for pilgrims undertaking the Shravani Mela Kanwar Yatra to Deoghar's Baidyanath Temple.
Key Takeaways
Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary inaugurated a sewa shivir (service camp) on the Kanwariya Path, Sultanganj on July 28, 2026 .
The camp is designed to serve pilgrims of the Shravani Mela , the annual Shravan-month Kanwar Yatra from Sultanganj to Deoghar.
State government commitments cover security, health, sanitation, and drinking water along the pilgrimage route.
Sultanganj in Bhagalpur district is the traditional starting point where Kanwariyas collect Ganga water before walking to the Baidyanath Temple, Deoghar .
Peak pilgrim footfall on the corridor in the coming weeks will be the real test of the deployed arrangements.
As the holy month of Shravan arrives, Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary personally inaugurated a dedicated service camp — sewa shivir — on the Kanwariya Path in Sultanganj on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, signalling the state government's full mobilisation for one of Bihar's largest annual pilgrimages. Lakhs of devotees will soon walk this route. The government wants none of them to stumble.
Posting on X, Chief Minister Choudhary declared: 'The service of pilgrims is our highest priority. The state government is ensuring, with complete commitment, arrangements for security, health, sanitation, drinking water, and all other necessities so that devotees of Baba Bholenath face no inconvenience during Sawan.' He closed with the pilgrim's battle cry — Bol Bam — and a saffron flag.
Sultanganj: Where the Kanwar Yatra Begins
Sultanganj, a town in Bhagalpur district, is the sacred origin point of the Shravani Mela — the annual Shravan-month pilgrimage during which Kanwariyas (devotees of Lord Shiva) collect Ganga water here and carry it on foot to the Baidyanath Temple in Deoghar, a journey of roughly 105 kilometres. The mela draws hundreds of thousands of pilgrims each year, turning the route into one of the most densely walked corridors in eastern India during the month of Shravan.
What the State Is Deploying Along the Route
The sewa shivir inaugurated by the Chief Minister is part of a broader, multi-agency deployment that Bihar administrations have institutionalised over the years for this pilgrimage. This year's framework covers security, health and medical aid, sanitation, and drinking water at key points along the Kanwariya Path. The Chief Minister's presence at the inauguration underlines the political and administrative weight the state places on seamless pilgrim management during peak Shravan days.
The real test arrives in the coming weeks, as pilgrim footfall on the Sultanganj–Deoghar corridor hits its annual peak. How the health posts, water kiosks, and security deployments hold up under that pressure will define whether the promise made at the inauguration translates into experience on the road.
Point of View
Particularly during Hindu religious seasons. For Samrat Choudhary, personally presiding over the Shravani Mela launch in Sultanganj is a visible alignment of governance delivery with the party's cultural-nationalist base ahead of peak Shravan. Bihar's institutionalised approach to Kanwar Yatra logistics also doubles as a soft counter to any opposition narrative of administrative neglect. The coming weeks will reveal whether the on-ground infrastructure matches the inauguration's optics.
NationPress
28 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Shravani Mela in Bihar?
The Shravani Mela is an annual Hindu pilgrimage held during the month of Shravan, in which devotees called Kanwariyas collect sacred Ganga water from Sultanganj in Bhagalpur district and carry it on foot approximately 105 kilometres to the Baidyanath Temple in Deoghar, Jharkhand.
What did Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary inaugurate on July 28, 2026?
Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary inaugurated a sewa shivir (pilgrim service camp) on the Kanwariya Path in Sultanganj to provide security, health, sanitation, and drinking water facilities to pilgrims during the Shravani Mela.
Why is Sultanganj important for the Kanwar Yatra?
Sultanganj, a town in Bhagalpur district of Bihar, is the traditional starting point of the Kanwar Yatra where pilgrims fill pots with Ganga water before beginning their walk to the Baidyanath Temple in Deoghar.
What arrangements has the Bihar government made for Shravani Mela 2026?
The Bihar state government has committed to deploying security personnel, medical and health aid, sanitation facilities, and drinking water points along the Sultanganj Kanwariya Path for the duration of the Shravan month pilgrimage.
Who is Samrat Choudhary?
Samrat Choudhary is the Chief Minister of Bihar and a senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
