Ranchi: The first day of the holy Shravan month turned Ranchi into a vivid blend of spirituality and tradition on Thursday, as chants of “Har Har Mahadev” echoed through temple courtyards while markets buzzed with devotees preparing for a month of worship.From the hilltop Pahari Mandir to Marsili Pahad in Namkum, Sureshwar Dham in Chutia, Shiv Mandir at Chiroundi, Jagannathpur temple and neighbourhood shrines across the city, devotees queued up from early morning to offer prayers and perform jalabhishek.At Pahari Mandir, the city’s most prominent Shiva shrine, streams of worshippers climbed the hill before sunrise. “The rush never eased. Seeing such unwavering faith every year is overwhelming,” said volunteer Badal Singh, as devotees made their way up the steps carrying holy water and offerings. As Mondays draw heavy crowds, both the temple management and administration are busy fine-tuning modalities to tackle the rush, said another volunteer.At Sureshwar Dham, devotee Ankit Mishra began the holy month with a Rudrabhishek. “Offering water, milk, curd, honey and ghee to the Shivling while priests recited hymns brought a sense of peace and spiritual fulfilment,” he said.Beyond the shrines, markets too were abuzz. Around Upper bazaar, Pahari Mandir and key religious routes, stalls selling bel patra, flowers, incense sticks, rudraksha malas, copper kalash and puja baskets witnessed brisk business. Vendors of sugarcane juice, fruits and fasting essentials lined approach roads, catering to devotees throughout the day.The month also brought familiar shades of green to city markets. Women and young girls flocked to cosmetic shops and roadside stalls to buy green glass bangles, considered auspicious during Shravan, while mehndi artists remained occupied creating intricate designs.“Shravan is not just about offering water to the Shivling; every offering has symbolic significance,” said Amrit Pathak, a priest from Kokar. He said that devotees offer bilva patra, dhatura, bhasma and seasonal flowers while chanting sacred mantras dedicated to Lord Shiva.On the other hand, several devotees from the city also began heading to Sultanganj along the Bihar border, either by train or by road, today to lift water from the holy Ganga for a foot pilgrimage to Deoghar, located over 100 km away, to offer prayers on Monday, considered most auspicious.
