Bhubaneswar, July 28: The temple city of Bhubaneswar witnessed an overwhelming surge of devotion on the third Sawan Somwar, as thousands of devotees thronged the historic Lingaraj Temple to offer prayers to Lord Shiva today.

The temple premises reverberated with chants of “Har Har Mahadev” and “Bol Bam Har Har Bam” as pilgrims from across Odisha and neighboring states gathered to perform Jalabhishek and seek blessings. Thousands of Kanwariyas offered water to Lord Lingaraj.

The temple opened its gates at dawn, and by early morning, long queues had formed outside the 11th-century shrine. Special arrangements were made by temple authorities and local administration to manage the crowd, including extended darshan hours, medical aid stations, and traffic diversions around Old Town in the city.

Inside the temple, priests conducted elaborate abhishekams using Panchamrit — a sacred mixture of milk, curd, ghee, honey, and sugar — followed by offerings of Bilva leaves, white flowers, and fruits. The rituals were performed during auspicious muhurats, with Amrit Muhurat from 5:40 AM to 7:22 AM and Pradosh Kaal from 7:15 PM to 8:33 PM1.

The Lingaraj Temple, dedicated to Lord Harihara — a syncretic form of Shiva and Vishnu — is a major spiritual center during the month of Sawan. The temple’s unique architecture and mythological significance continue to draw devotees in large numbers, especially during festivals like Mahashivratri, Ashokashtami, and Chandan Yatra4.

As the day progressed, the temple complex remained vibrant with devotional songs, incense, and the rhythmic ringing of bells. The spiritual energy was palpable, and many devotees observed fasts and participated in evening aartis to conclude their worship.

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