Devotees Pour Water, Chant ‘Bom Bom’ at Shivpithas

On this first Monday of the month of Shravana, Shivpithas across the state are witnessing throngs of devotees. From early morning, devotees have flocked to various Shivpithas to worship Mahadev. Long processions of Kaudias and Shiva devotees, carrying water from distant locations, are reaching these sacred sites to offer their prayers and water to Lord Shiva.

At the famous Shivpitha of Baba Dhabaleswar in Ashtgarh, Cuttack district, crowds of Kaudias have gathered. Thousands of devotees are pouring water on the Shravani Linga of Dhabaleswar. The Pujak Samiti opened the hill at 4 am, bathing Baba in 108 kalas of water. Following the Mansala Alati rituals, devotees were given the opportunity to offer their water. This year, with plastic containers banned at Dhabaleswar Peetha, devotees are using clay and brass vessels to carry the water. The police administration has deployed two platoons of police, and the district administration has set up barricades from the concrete pole to Bebacha to facilitate the devotees’ darshan.

Similarly, the Baba Chandaneshwar Shaivapitha in Bhograi, eastern India, is also witnessing large crowds of devotees eager to pour water and have darshan of Baba. More than 20,000 Kaudias have gathered at the pitha to offer water to Baba Akhandalmani. The Kaudias began their rituals from Sunday midnight, with the entire pitha resonating with the chants of “bom bom” from the devotees. In anticipation of the large crowds, a three-tier security arrangement has been implemented both at the pitha and along the roads and canals. Additionally, Odraf and fire brigades have been stationed at the three river gorges to manage the influx of devotees arriving via waterways.

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