The month-long Shravani Mela started in Deoghar on Sunday, as devotees gathered to offer Baahy Argha. With an increase in the expected number of devotees at the fair (mela) this year, tight security has been arranged to secure the area, as per reports. The fair was inaugurated at Dumma at the states border with Bihar with the State Agriculture Minister Dipika Pandey Singh and Drinking and Sanitation Department Minister Mithilesh Thakur performing the rituals. Though the fair was inaugurated on Sunday, the holy month of Sawan started from Monday. Lakhs of Shiv devotees will bow their heads in front of Lord Shiva. They will receive blessings of happiness, prosperity and well-being. This years Sawan is very special in many ways. It is special because there will be five Mondays in the 29-day Sawan. The first Monday will be on 22 July, the second on 29 July, the third on 5 August, the fourth on 12 August and the fifth on 19 August. In these 29 days, many auspicious yogas including Sarvarth Siddhi Yoga, Shiv Vaas, Amrit Siddhi Yoga, Preeti Yoga are also going to be formed. Shiv devotees will be able to offer water to the Shivling through Argha. At the same time, the price of the Shrigdarshanam coupon has been increased by Rs 100. Now Shrigdarshanam coupons will be available for Rs 600. Last year its price was Rs 500. Through this coupon, Shiv devotees will be able to reach the sanctum sanctorum of the temple in less time. During the State Shravani Fair, VIP, VVIP and out of term darshan will be completely closed. More than 35 lakh devotees from across the country and abroad attend one of the biggest socio-religious festivals every year during the Sawan month, according to reports. To accommodate this huge population, the state government has reportedly made elaborate arrangements. The Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren also assessed the situation on Saturday before the fair to ensure safety in Deoghar. The officials were conveyed to make convenience, security, cleanliness and hospitality a priority at the fair by the CM. He reportedly said that the devotees visiting the fair should return with good memories and should have access to all the facilities like drinking water, accommodation, toilet, health, parking, electricity and information system. He stressed ensuring convenience, security, cleanliness, and hospitality to create a positive experience for the visiting devotees. Soren instructed those essential facilities such as drinking water, accommodation, toilets, health services, parking, electricity, and information systems be fully operational. The state government has made comprehensive arrangements for this major socio-religious event, which draws over 3.5 million devotees from India and abroad during the holy month of Shravan. Thousands of devotees embark on a 105-km pilgrimage from Sultanganj, Bihar to Baidyanath Temple in Jharkhand to offer Ganga water to the Jyotirlinga in Deoghar.

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