Preparations are underway for the grand Shravani Mela 2025 at Baba Dham in Deoghar, with the festival commencing on July 11. The district and temple administrations have finalized arrangements to ensure the safety and comfort of devotees. Starting July 11, direct physical contact with the Baba will be restricted, with devotees offering prayers through Argha. Temple priest Ravi Pandey anticipates changes in the management during the Mela.
Pilgrim Ravi Pandey mentions the bustling atmosphere of Baba Nagari (Deoghar) during Sawan. Lakhs of pilgrims from across the globe come carrying Kanwars. He believes that the chants of ‘Om Namah Shivaya’ should not be overshadowed by management issues. The focus should be on facilitating easy and smooth prayers for all pilgrims, regardless of queue type.
The priest points out that while changes are discussed annually, certain old issues persist. A significant problem is the lack of information about temple closing times, causing inconvenience to pilgrims. Some pilgrims, following tradition, assume the temple closes at 5 PM and do not join the queue, only to find the line extending for miles the next morning.
Ravi Pandey emphasizes the importance of sharing information about the closure times, prayer timings, and the elaborate rituals of Baba’s adornment. He says that these details are crucial for the experience of the pilgrims. He believes that proper information dissemination is essential to preserving tradition and ensuring a smooth experience for the devotees. The goal is to ensure pilgrims have a pleasant experience, keeping their journey connected to devotion.