Maha-Deluge of Faith in Silk City on Guru Purnima; Heavy Crowds of Devotees Surge at Barari Staircase Ghat and Bridge, Kanwrias Take Holy Dip, Offer Arghy to Sun, and Depart for Shiva Temples
Bhagalpur, Office Correspondent: On the auspicious and sacred festival of 'Guru Purnima'—dedicated to the guru-shishya (preceptor-disciple) tradition—an unprecedented spectacle of faith was witnessed in Silk City Bhagalpur. On this holy day of Ashadh Purnima, a massive surge of devotees flooded the banks of the northward-flowing Ganges since the early morning hours. Thousands of devotees reached the prominent religious spots of Bhagalpur, namely Barari Staircase Ghat and near the Barari Bridge, taking a holy dip in the Ganges. Amidst chants of 'Har Har Gange' and 'Bam Bam Bhole', devotees offered Arghy to the rising Sun God after their bath and performed rituals with full devotion. Following this, a large number of Shiva devotees and Kanwrias filled holy Ganges water and began their journey toward various Shiva temples.
Devotees Began Gathering at the Ghats Since Early Morning
The festival of Guru Purnima holds special significance in Sanatan culture. Along with guru worship, taking a holy bath in sacred rivers and performing charity are also prescribed on this day:
Crowds Surge at the Ghats: Long before sunrise, people from the city and distant rural areas began arriving at Barari Staircase Ghat, Bridge Ghat, and other surrounding Ganges banks in Bhagalpur. Tremendous enthusiasm for the holy dip was witnessed among women, youth, the elderly, and children alike.
Chants of Har Har Gange: As the first rays of the sun struck the waters of the Ganges, devotees present at the ghats began taking dips amidst chants of 'Har Har Gange'. The entire ghat premises resonated with spiritual energy and devotion.
Ganges Bath and Arghy to the Sun, Followed by Worship
After taking the bath, devotees sipped the water of the purifying Mother Ganges and prayed for the peace and prosperity of themselves and their families:
Arghy to the Sun God: Immediately after the bath, devotees filled copper pots with Ganges water and ritually offered Arghy to Lord Bhaskar (Sun God). According to folk tradition, offering Arghy to the sun on Guru Purnima bestows inner strength and mental peace.
Charity and Rituals: Under the guidance of priests and preceptors present at the ghats, devotees distributed food, clothes, and alms to the needy. Many people also performed Tarpan and special prayers for the salvation of their ancestors.
Kanwrias Fill Ganges Water and Depart for Shiva Temples
Since the holy month of Shravan and the Shravani Mela season are currently underway, the enthusiasm of Shiva devotees doubled on this occasion of Guru Purnima:
Vows of the Kanwrias: Following the Ganges bath and sun Arghy, a large number of Shiva devotees took vows, filled holy Ganges water in their kanwars, and set off toward local and renowned Shiva temples (such as Budhanath Temple, Bhootnath Temple, and other Shiva shrines across the district) to offer Jalabhishek to Lord Bholenath.
City Echoes with Bol Bam Chants: As batches of Kanwrias dressed in saffron attire passed through the streets of Bhagalpur from Barari Ghat amidst thunderous chants of "Bol Bam, Kanwar Bam" and "Har Har Mahadev", the entire city was immersed in divine devotion.
Administrative and Security Arrangements Remain Alert
In view of the massive crowd of lakhs of devotees, the district administration and police department maintained high alertness:
Strict Security Arrangements: To maintain law and order at Barari Ghat and prevent any untoward incidents, adequate numbers of police personnel, female police officers, and divers were deployed.
Improved Traffic Management: To regulate vehicular movement, the traffic police implemented a special route chart on roads leading toward the ghat, ensuring that devotees faced no inconvenience in commuting.
The massive crowd and unwavering enthusiasm of devotees at the Barari Bridge and Staircase Ganges Ghat in Bhagalpur on Guru Purnima prove that our Sanatan culture and traditions remain deeply rooted in people's hearts today. This journey of taking a Ganges bath, offering sun Arghy, and heading toward Shiva temples further deepens Bhagalpur's spiritual and cultural identity.
