Devotees throng temples to celebrate Shivratri

Tribune News Service

Haridwar, August 1

Devotees offered Ganga jal, milk, curd and bilva patras to Shivlingams at Lord Shiva temples on the occasion of Shravan Shivratri here today.

People in large numbers started gathering at the ancient shrines of Shri Daksheshwar Mahadev and Bilkeshwar Mahadev right from the wee hours to anoint Shivlingams and pay obeisance to Lord Shiva, Parvati, Lord Ganesha and Kartika. The police had made elaborate security arrangements.

The temples which saw a heavy rush of devotees are Daridra Bhanjan Mandir, Tilbhandeshwar Mahadev, Neeleshwar, Soteshwar, Ardh Narishwar, Peepleshwar, Pashupathi Nath, Sati Kund, Jatileshwar, Gupteshwar, Shiv Parvati temple in Vivek Vihar, Shivalik Nagar-based Shiv temple, Hanuman temple Tibdi bypass, Sector 1 Shiva temple, Shankar Ashram, Avdhoot Mandal Ashram temples, Shiv Moorti square at the railway station, Shiv Moorti square at Singh Dwar among other temples.

Meanwhile, most of the Kanwariyas left the city today. The Kanwar fair security personnel will start leaving for their destinations. The mela administration will organise a ‘bhandara’ (langar) tomorrow.

CM visits Tapkeshwar temple

Chief Minister Harish Rawat planted a sapling of ‘Panchmukhi Rudraksh’ at Tapkeshwar Temple while visiting the famous Shiva temple on the occasion of Shivratri.

Speaking on the occasion, Harish Rawat said saints had served the humanity for centuries by wearing beeds of Rudraksh. He directed the Musoorie Dehradun Development Authority to plant Rudraksh, Belpatra and Kadamb plants in all temples of Lord Shiva in Dehradun under ‘Harela’ festival.

He also directed to install lift in Tapkeshwar temple for aged and disabled persons and construct ghats on the either sides of the river. He also asked the official of the Institute of Hotel Management (IHM) to plant saplings of Rudraksh, Belpatra, Kadamb and other medicinal trees on the IHM campus.

Besides the Chief Minister, a large number of devotees thronged Tapkeshwar Temple to pay obeisance on the occasion of Shivratri. Long serpentine queues of devotees were seen since early morning in front of the temple.