Holy twin shrines gear up for devotion as Shravani Mela begins today

The State Shravani Mela came alive with vibrant inaugural ceremonies at Dumma on the Jharkhand-Bihar border in Deoghar and at Basukinath Dham in Dumka, marking the start of a month-long pilgrimage that will see the twin shrines of Baba Baidyanath and Baba Basukinath transformed into a sea of saffron-clad devotion.

The administration has prioritised technology-driven crowd management systems to regulate the massive footfall expected during the pilgrimage, alongside strengthened security arrangements to safeguard devotees throughout their journey.

Facilities for pilgrims have also been significantly upgraded, reflecting the state’s focus on providing a smoother, safer and more organised experience for the lakhs of devotees who undertake the pilgrimage each year.

Running from July 30 to August 28, the annual fair is expected to draw nearly 50 lakh Kanwariyas from across India and abroad, pilgrims who will trek for days carrying holy water from the Ganga to offer at the shrines. This year, the state government says it has leaned heavily on technology to make that journey smoother and safer.

At Deoghar, the ceremony opened to the chanting of Vedic slokas by eleven priests, setting a devotional tone before Tourism, Art, Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Sudivya Kumar and Rural Development Minister Deepika Pandey Singh jointly inaugurated the fair.

“Serving Kanwariyas is akin to serving Lord Shiva,” Kumar told the gathering, describing the extensive preparations made to ensure a hassle-free experience for devotees, including AI-based surveillance and crowd management systems.

Singh, for her part, struck an emotional note, saying the fair’s success would hinge on the combined efforts of the administration, volunteers and local residents alike. She appealed to the community to welcome pilgrims warmly, so that every visitor carries home fond memories of the holy city.

The administrative machinery is leaving little to chance. Deoghar Deputy Commissioner Saurabh Kumar Bhuwania and SP Praveen Pushkar outlined the security and civic arrangements now in place, with technology playing a starring role. Facial recognition systems and headcount cameras have been installed at key locations, while devotees can flag civic issues simply by scanning QR codes, with a promise that complaints will be resolved within 15 minutes.

The occasion also saw local representatives in attendance, including Deoghar MLA Suresh Paswan, Sarath MLA Uday Shankar Singh and Jarmundi MLA Devendra Kunwar, alongside senior officials.

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