Devotees flock to Saryu River and Nageshwar Nath Temple in Ayodhya on third Monday of Shravan

Ayodhya (Uttar Pradesh) [India] August 5 (ANI): On the third Monday of the sacred month of Shravan, devotees flocked to the Saryu river and Nageshwar Nath Temple in Ayodhya.
Early morning, devotees arrived at the banks of the Saryu River to bathe in the holy river and to start their day in complete devotion to the lord Shiva.
After bathing in the river, devotees headed for Nageshwar Nath Temple situated at the banks of the river to worship the lord Shiva.
Omprakash Panda, the president of the Panda Society, told ANI that bathing in holy rivers in India and performing charitable acts hold special significance Shravan Monday.
He further added that due to people's beliefs, millions of devotes gather in Ramnagri, take a tip in th Saryu river, and perform worship in the temples.
Shravan month is considered sacred in the Hindu religion as many Hindus visit temples to worship lord Shiva. This sacred month, typically falling between July and August, is a period of worship, fasting and pilgrimage dedicated to the Lord Shiva.
Shravan holds a special place in Hindu mythology as the month when Lord Shiva is believed to have consumed the poison that emerged from the churning of the ocean (Samudra Manthan), saving the universe from its toxic effects.
Devotees undertake fasting and offer prayers to seek the blessings of Lord Shiva during this period. The cooling rains of Shravan are symbolic of Shiva's compassion and benevolence.
During Shravan, devotees typically observe fasts on Mondays, which are considered auspicious.
The chanting of Shiva mantras, singing bhajans (devotional songs), and performing Rudrabhishek (ceremonial bathing of Shiva Lingam with holy substances) are common practices observed with fervor across households and temples. (ANI)