Every year during the holy month of Sawan, several Lord Shiva devotees take out Kawad Yatra & throng temples. However, this year the COVID-19 pandemic has forced authorities to ban such religious activates. On the first Monday of 'Sawan' (Shravan) month, devotees started coming to Lord Shiva temples in different parts of the country from the early morning to offer prayers. In Varanasi, devotees in large numbers throng Kashi Vishwanath temple. While devotees may not be able to visit the popular Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi, they can now get home delivery of ‘prasad’, thanks to the department of posts. Devotees offer prayers at Saketri Shiva temple in Panchkula, Shivala Bhaiyan temple in Amritsar, Punjab and Gauri Shankar temple in Delhi. Many devotees took a dip in the Ganga. Shravan, the fifth month in the Hindu calendar, is considered to be the most auspicious month of the year. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva who, according to Hindu religious beliefs, is the creator, preserver, and destroyer of this universe. While Lord Shiva is worshipped on Mondays throughout the year, Mondays during this particular month are considered highly significant and auspicious. The festival is predominantly celebrated in North Indian states.
