Chants of “Har Har Mahadev” echoed across Odisha on Monday as thousands of devotees visited Shiva temples to mark the second Sawan Somwar of 2026.
From Bhubaneswar and Kataka to Puri, Nayagarh and Dhenkanal, prominent Shiva shrines witnessed a steady flow of devotees from the early hours. Kanwariyas also took part in the religious observances, carrying holy water and offering it to Lord Mahadev.
Kanwariyas undertake 100-km journey
In Ganjam district, a group of Kanwariyas carried 108 pots of water in a specially prepared palanquin as part of their pilgrimage.
The devotees collected water from the Rushikulya River and travelled around 100 km to reach the Mahadev Balunkeshwar Temple in Parla village under Krushnaprasad block.
The pilgrimage reflected the devotion associated with Sawan, when devotees undertake journeys to Shiva temples to offer holy water and seek blessings.
Odisha temples witness huge crowds
Several prominent Shiva temples across the state witnessed large gatherings on the second Monday of Sawan.
Among the major shrines that saw a surge in devotees were:
- Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar
- Lokanath Temple in Puri
- Ladu Baba Temple in Nayagarh
- Kapilash Temple in Dhenkanal
- Dhabaleswar Temple in Kataka
At Dhabaleswar Temple, devotees arrived hours before the main rituals.
One devotee said they reached the temple around 9 pm on Sunday and were able to offer water to Lord Shiva peacefully.
Administration makes arrangements for devotees
With large crowds expected at major temples, local administrations made arrangements to facilitate the movement of devotees and ensure that prayers could be offered in an orderly manner.
Security and crowd-management measures were also put in place at prominent shrines to manage the rush during the Sawan celebrations.
The second Sawan Monday brought devotees together across Odisha, with temples reverberating with chants of “Har Har Mahadev” and “Bam Bam Bhole.”
