Shravan: Hindus in Varanasi worship Shiva

         Varanasi (UP): Hindu devotees from across the country converged at Varanasi's Kashi Vishwanath temple on the first Monday of the month of Shravan.Hindus believe offering prayers on the banks of River Ganges during Shravan is auspicious and would absolve them of their sins. A large number of devotees' queued up at the revered temple, holding pots full of Ganga water to be offered to Lord Shiva. The devotees also took a dip in the holy Ganges to cleanse themselves off their sins on this auspicious day. "This year's monsoon month has five Mondays and today is the first Monday and that is why this (month) is important," said Ravi Shankar, a devotee. Pilgrims also store Ganga water and carry it along with them to their home and offer it to Lord Shiva in the local temple. The barefoot pilgrims, also known as "Kanwaria," collect Ganga water in pails attached to a 'Kanwar' (a long wooden stick, to which is attached several items for performing ritual) that they carry it on their shoulders. The pilgrims keep the kanwar on special platforms when they take rest or have their food as scriptures forbid them from keeping it on the ground. All the pilgrims wear saffron dresses and keep reciting hymns in the praise of Lord Shiva. "Of the twelve holy phallic symbols of Lord Shiva, Kashi Vishwanath is the most important. Huge crowds of devotees have come here to pay obeisance," said Munni Devi, another devotee. The pilgrimage continues throughout the Shravan month, for 30 days and is considered the longest fair of the world, drawing a lot of devotees from abroad. Over the years, the number of pilgrims visiting Varanasi has increased manifold.
July 30, 2007

Guru Purnima: 1100 kg offering to Hanumanji
by Jethmal Sharma

         Falodi (Rajasthan): Devotees paid their respects to their ancestral Gurus over the weekend on the occasion of Guru Purnima Day. A hermitage in Falodi, in Rajasthan, offered 1100 kg of chapatti as an offering to Lord Hanuman. Swami Ramdas, the Chief of the Jai Shri Hermitage in Jodhpur District has been offering giant chapattis on every Guru Purnima Day for the last 15 years. Ramdas says he started the practice, as he accepts Lord Hanuman as his guide in life. Daulat Ram Parik, a fellow inhabitant at the hermitage, said: "Swami Ramdas had started this tradition for social welfare and world peace. It started with 51 kilogram chapatti (pancake) and since then every year the weight and size of the Roti has been increasing. This year the Roti weighs 1100 kilograms." The chapatti, made with the 1,000 kilograms of wheat floor mixed with 100 kg of Semolina and clarified butter, was baked in two days on cow dung cake fire. The baked chapatti was then grinded and mixed with sugar, clarified butter and dry-fruits and offered to Hanuman on Guru Purnima Day. Devotees from different parts of the country thronged Falodi to watch this giant offering. Sushila, a devotee, said: "We have come from Maharashtra. We heard about this offering, and decided to come and see it ourselves. This chappati is a symbol of unity."
July 30, 2007

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