Today, the final Monday of Shrawan has seen an immense influx of devotees at Shiva temples across Nepal, including the Pashupatinath Temple. By noon, around 115,000 pilgrims had visited Pashupatinath and participated in the Bolbam pilgrimage, according to Revati Raman Adhikari, spokesperson for the Pashupati Area Development Trust.
In response to the increased number of visitors compared to other days, additional security personnel and volunteers have been deployed to manage the crowds and ensure the safety and convenience of the devotees. The trust has opened all four gates of the temple from early morning and has implemented various measures, including the deployment of volunteers, facilitation of worship, health camps, and the provision of drinking water.
Dr. Milan Kumar Thapa, Secretary of the Development Trust, explained that the large turnout is attributed to the combination of Shrawan month and Monday being particularly auspicious for Lord Shiva. He noted that today’s attendance surpasses that of previous Mondays due to the final Monday’s significance.
“During Shrawan, there is always a large gathering at Pashupatinath, especially from devotees participating in the Bolbam pilgrimage who bring water from Sundarijal,” Thapa said. “Today, the crowd is even larger due to the final Monday of Shrawan and the influx of pilgrims from India.”
In the Kathmandu Valley, along with Pashupatinath, crowds have also gathered at other Shiva temples such as Gokarneshwor, Santaneshwor, Doleswor, Kirateshwor, and Bhaleswor. The fervor extends to other regions, including Sanga in Kavrepalanchok, Devghat in Tanahun, and Galeswor in Magdi, where devotees are actively participating in Shiva worship and rituals.
