On the first Monday of the Shravani fair, a huge crowd of devotees gathered at Baba Baidyanath Dham in Deoghar. A queue of approximately 10 kilometers long formed for offering water, and approximately two lakh devotees are expected to visit and worship.
Deoghar: The first Monday of the Shravani fair saw a large crowd of devotees at Baba Baidyanath Dham. Long queues of devotees began arriving at the temple late at night, and the administration has made extensive arrangements for a safe and orderly offering of water. Modern AI technologies are also being used for crowd control and security.
Crowds of devotees gathered at Baba Baidyanath Dham on the first Monday.
After the commencement of the State Shravani Mela, a huge crowd of devotees gathered at Baba Baidyanath Temple in Deoghar on the first Monday. From late Sunday night itself, crowds of Kanwariyas and devotees from different states of the country started reaching the temple premises. Before 2 o’clock in the night, a queue of about 10 kilometers long was formed for offering water, which continued till Monday morning. The administration estimates that about two lakh devotees can perform Jalabhishek of Baba Baidyanath throughout the day. Due to the special religious significance of the first Monday during the Shravani Mela, a large number of devotees reach here every year.
Worship began in the morning, officials took care of the arrangements.
As soon as the temple doors opened on Monday morning, the traditional rituals of worship began. The morning puja was conducted by Sardar Panda Gulabanand Ojha. He explained that Lord Shiva loves Ganga water and Bel leaves, so devotees are offering water with these. On the other hand, to ensure the convenience and safety of the devotees, the Deputy Commissioner (DC), Superintendent of Police (SP) and other senior officials were present in the temple premises since morning. The officials reviewed the preparations before the temple opened and also inspected the route line after the offering of water began.
RAF and police forces were deployed for security.
In view of the large crowd of devotees, strict security arrangements have been made in the temple complex and along the route. A large police force, along with Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel, has been deployed. Security personnel near the outer argha have taken charge of controlling the crowds and ensuring safe darshan for devotees. Separate exit routes have been created to ensure orderly evacuation of devotees after darshan, to avoid any chaos or stampede.
VIP darshan closed, same arrangements for all devotees
This time, during the Shravani fair, the administration has implemented uniform arrangements for all devotees. Special facilities like out-of-turn darshan, VIP darshan, and Shishradarshanam on Mondays have been completely suspended. This is intended to ensure that all devotees have the opportunity to have darshan and offer water to Baba Baidyanath in an orderly manner, without discrimination. The administration says this has improved crowd management and maintained a smooth queue system.
Crowd and traffic monitoring using AI technology
For the first time, modern technologies are being used extensively at the Shravani Mela. The administration has installed an AI-based integrated fair control room, face recognition cameras, AI cameras, traffic management systems, drone surveillance, head counting systems, and high-quality ANPR cameras. Additionally, a QR code-based complaint system, helplines, digital pavilions, and location-based attendance systems have also been activated. These technologies are being used to continuously monitor the crowds, and preparations have been made to respond immediately to any emergencies. The administration hopes that these arrangements will ensure a safe and smooth darshan experience for devotees during the Shravani Mela.