Category: Festivals & Pilgrimages

The holy month of Sawan is going on, which started on 11th July this year and will end on 09th August. This year there will be a total of 4 Monday fasts in Sawan, in which 2 Monday fasts have passed so far and 2 are yet to come. Sawan Somwar fast is considered to be of special importance in Sanatan Dharma. In the month of Shravan, people do puja-path and fast for the whole month. At this time it is necessary to be careful in eating and drinking. Today we will tell you when to break the Sawan Somwar fast and what to eat and what not to eat. Let’s know… What should be eaten during the fast? Food is not consumed in Shravan fast, but fruits can be eaten. On this day, along with offering Belpatra on Shivling, you can also consume it. Along with this, you can also eat Rajgira Paratha in the fast of Monday of Shravan. It is light and tasty and is eaten with curd or chutney. Apart from this, Sabudana, Makhana, Arrowroot, and Buckwheat are also eaten during fasting. Paratha, Khichdi, and Halwa are prepared from these. Now talking about the rules of breaking the fast, it is considered best to break this fast in the evening. After listening to the story of Sawan Monday fast, eat sweet food. Then worship Lord Shiva early in the morning the next day and complete the fast by giving donations, etc., as per your capacity. What should not be eaten during the fast? Salt is not consumed in this fast. You should keep the fast by taking only fruits. Do not eat coconut in this fast, even by mistake. Also do not consume any tamasic things. Follow a satvik diet so that both the body and mind get peace. Alcohol should not be consumed during the days of Sawan and Monday fast. Its consumption is considered forbidden these days. Apart from this, do not eat food repeatedly during this fast. Food is eaten only once in this fast. Bhole will be pleased with faith and devotion If you are not able to keep the Sawan Monday fast for some reason, then it is not at all that you will not get the blessings of Bholenath. Bhole Baba sees more faith than fasting. By keeping faith in your mind, you can please Bholenath by offering only a pot of pure water on Shivling or by mental chanting. Because only devotion done with a true heart reaches God.

What was supposed to be a grand spiritual celebration in Puri turned tense on Friday, June 27, as over 600 devotees fell ill during the iconic Rath Yatra due to unbearable heat and overcrowding According to Chief District Medical Officer Dr. Kishore Satapathy, many devotees suffered from vomiting, fainting spells, and minor injuries. While most were treated and discharged quickly, around 70 people remain hospitalized, with 9 reported in critical condition. “Fortunately, no lives have been lost,” confirmed Dr. Satapathy. Heatwave & Overcrowding BlamedOdisha Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling cited the hot and humid weather as a major reason behind the sudden spike in health issues. The situation worsened in the Balagandi area when Lord Balabhadra’s chariot, Taladhwaja, got stuck for over an hour, causing a bottleneck and stampede-like congestion. Many people were injured while attempting to escape the packed area. Quick action by volunteers and medical teams from both government and private organizations enabled the prompt transportation of the injured to nearby hospitals. Yatra to Resume TodayDue to the delay, all three holy chariots failed to arrive at the Gundicha Temple on Friday. But devotees need not worry — the pulling of the chariots will continue today, as is often the case when such large-scale delays occur. “There’s nothing unusual. All rituals were conducted on time, and there were no serious mishaps,” said Odisha Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan. At last update: Lord Balabhadra’s Taladhwaja is halted at Balagandi Chhak Goddess Subhadra’s Darpadalan is at Marichkote Lord Jagannath’s Nandighosh was only symbolically pulled and remains near the main temple Over 1 Million Devotees Flooded PuriAs per officials, an estimated 10 lakh devotees gathered in Puri for this year’s Rath Yatra, making it one of the largest religious gatherings in the country. Despite the health scares and chariot delays, the devotional spirit remains high, and Puri gears up for Day 2 of the Yatra with hopes of smooth proceedings.