On Monday, devotees crowded Shiva temples across Nepal, including the renowned Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, from the early morning hours. This surge in visitors is attributed to the special significance of Mondays in the month of Shrawan for worshiping Lord Shiva.
Rewati Raman Adhikari, the spokesperson for the Pashupati Area Development Trust, informed that the temple’s four gates were opened at 4:00 AM to accommodate the influx of worshippers and those participating in the Bol Bam pilgrimage. “The Pashupatinath Temple has been thronged with devotees since early morning. A significant number of Bol Bam pilgrims have also gathered. We have ensured smooth arrangements for darshan by opening all four gates of the temple,” Adhikari said.
To facilitate the devotees, the Trust has implemented various measures, including security, volunteer mobilization, darshan management, health camps, and drinking water provisions.
Dr. Milan Kumar Thapa, member-secretary of the Trust, explained that the month of Shrawan and Mondays are considered auspicious for Lord Shiva, leading to a large number of devotees visiting the Pashupatinath Temple during this period. “During Shrawan, many devotees undertake the Bol Bam pilgrimage, carrying holy water from Sundarijal to offer at Pashupatinath,” Thapa added.
Apart from Pashupatinath, other significant Shiva temples in the Kathmandu Valley, such as Gokarneshwar, Santaneshwar, Doleswar, Kiranteshwar, and Bhaleshwar, saw a high turnout of worshippers. Devotees also visited Shiva temples in other parts of the country, including Sanga in Kavrepalanchok, Devghat in Tanahun, and Galeshwar in Myagdi, performing rituals and offerings from early morning.
