The holy month of Sawan commenced on Thursday, 30 July 2025, with thousands of devotees across India flocking to Shiva temples to perform jalabhishek and seek the blessings of Lord Shiva. From Bihar and Uttar Pradesh to Delhi and Uttarakhand, temples recorded heavy footfall on the first day of one of the most sacred months in the Hindu calendar. The month will continue until 28 August 2025, drawing millions of pilgrims to shrines and pilgrimage sites nationwide.

Scenes from Patna, Haridwar and Rishikesh

In Patna, Bihar's capital, worshippers arrived at Shiva temples from early morning to offer water, milk, and flowers to Shiva Lingams. Long queues formed outside shrines as devotees marked the auspicious opening of Shravan Maas.

In Haridwar, Kanwariyas carrying holy Ganga water set off on their onward journeys. Authorities deployed a large number of police personnel along the Kanwar Yatra route and put in place a network of high-tech CCTV cameras to monitor the entire pilgrimage corridor, officials confirmed.

In Rishikesh, thousands of devotees and Kanwariyas began arriving at prominent Shiva temples — including the famed Neelkanth Mahadev Temple — from midnight onwards. Temple authorities reported a significant increase in footfall compared to regular days, with worshippers offering water, milk, flowers, fruits, and sweets to the deity.

Delhi, Noida and Ayodhya join the fervour

In the national capital, a large number of devotees visited the historic Gauri Shankar Temple in Old Delhi to participate in special rituals on the first day of Sawan. One devotee at the temple said, 'I pray that God keeps everyone happy and always blesses me with a place at His feet. Today is the first day of Sawan, but the real rush will be seen on the first Monday of the month when very long queues of devotees are expected.'

In Noida, worshippers gathered at the Sanatan Temple in Sector 19, with the premises remaining crowded throughout the day. Religious enthusiasm was also witnessed in Ayodhya, where pilgrims from nearby districts and neighbouring states visited the Ram Temple and other places of worship.

Varanasi records one of the largest gatherings

One of the biggest congregations on the opening day was reported from Varanasi, where thousands thronged the revered Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Pilgrims travelled from across the country to offer prayers. A devotee who had journeyed from Amritsar said, 'We were unsure about the journey initially, but around a week ago we started preparing. When Baba called us, we made the trip.'

Another worshipper at the temple noted, 'Today marks the beginning of the holy month of Sawan and the celebrations dedicated to Lord Bholenath. This is only the beginning, and the number of devotees will continue to increase in the coming weeks. The arrangements here are excellent.'

What Sawan means and what lies ahead

Sawan, also called Shravan Maas, is dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva and is associated with fasting, special pujas, spiritual growth, and self-discipline. Key observances during the month include Shravan Shivratri, the Kanwar Yatra, and Hariyali Amavasya. Of these, Sawan Shivratri — observed on the Chaturdashi of Krishna Paksha — is considered the most significant occasion.

With the first Sawan Monday approaching, temple authorities and security agencies are already bracing for even larger crowds in the days ahead.