Over 1 lakh devotees throng Ghrishneshwar temple

AURANGABAD: Over one lakh devotees thronged the Ghrishneshwar temple of Lord Shiva at Ellora, to offer prayers and seek blessings on the occasion of Sharavan Somwar, the first Monday of the month of Shravan.Sanjay Vaidya, a priest, told TOI that the month is considered very sacred for Hindus. Carrying religious offerings, around 1.25 lakh Hindus visited the temple to offer special prayers, as they marked the auspicious first Monday of month long Shravan festival. The devotees offered milk, curd, ghee, honey and holy water to Lord Shiva from the wee hours. Long queues of people waiting with offerings like joss sticks, vermilion and flowers were seen outside the temple.""On Sharavan Somwar, the temple was kept open round the clock, while on other days it is open from 4 am to 9 pm. Devotees from across the country visit the temple during the holy month as Ghrishneshwar temple is the abode of one of the 12 jyotirlingas in the country. Situated 30km away from Aurangabad, the temple is half a kilometer away from the Buddhist caves of Ellora," he said."The temple authorities provide snacks such as 'sabudana khichdi' and banana to the devotees during Shravan. Drinking water arrangements also have been made and security measures have been beefed up. Around 150 police personnel have been deployed on special duty during the holy month," Vaidya said.Another priest, Amit Joshi, said that during the month-long Shravan festival, believers perform rituals and make offerings, especially on Mondays, because it is considered auspicious for bringing peace and prosperity to every household."According to the Hindu calendar, Shravan is the fifth month and the Shravani mela begins on Shravan amavasya, the no moon day in the month, and ends on Shravan purnima, the full moon day. The temple usually witnesses around two lakh devotees on the third Monday and the rush is mostly from rural areas."