Unfazed by rain, devotees throng temples on first Monday of Sawan

As the sacred month of Sawan commences, devotees across the Capital thronged Shiva temples to offer prayers, with the first Monday of the month witnessing an extraordinary spiritual turnout.

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In Delhi, despite relentless rain, thousands of devotees gathered at temples since the early hours, their devotion undeterred by the weather.

At the historic Shri Gauri Shankar Temple in Chandni Chowk, one of Delhi’s most revered Shiva shrines, long queues began forming as early as 5 am. By 7:30 am, as rain poured down heavily, the temple resonated with chants of “Bam Bam Bhole”, creating a deeply devotional atmosphere. Many devotees described the rain as “Indra Dev’s Jalabhishek” — a divine offering from the heavens to Lord Shiva.

Clad in saffron, carrying water pots and singing bhajans, pilgrims filled the narrow lanes of Old Delhi, turning them into a river of faith. “Even if we cannot travel to Somnath or Kashi Vishwanath, coming here feels like receiving the blessings of all Jyotirlingas,” said a devotee waiting patiently for darshan.

Shiva temples across the city — from Kalkaji in South East Delhi to the ancient Shiva temple in Tughlaqabad village — also witnessed significant footfall. Devotees performed Rudrabhishek rituals, accompanied by chanting of Vedic mantras, offering water, milk and bel leaves to the Shivalinga. It is widely believed that prayers offered on the first Monday of Sawan are especially auspicious and wish-fulfilling.

Prominent political and community figures also participated in the celebrations. Delhi Minister Ashish Sood offered holy water and prayed at the Durga Temple in Janakpuri, seeking blessings from Lord Mahadev. Meanwhile, Chandni Chowk MP Praveen Khandelwal performed a traditional Rudrabhishek ceremony at his residence.

The rituals at Khandelwal’s home were conducted under the guidance of Acharya Shri Durgesh Tare, a respected Vedic scholar from Ujjain, the city of Mahakal. Priests from Ujjain led the spiritual proceedings with complete Vedic traditions. Speaking on the occasion, Khandelwal emphasised the spiritual and cultural significance of Sawan, calling it a time of “devotion, harmony and the beginning of the festive season” for both families and businesses.

“This sacred month brings people together, revives our cultural roots, and also signals a time of rejuvenation for the trading community, with increased business activity and positive energy,” he said.