RANCHI, June 26, 2013: The Deoghar district administration is geared up for the month- long Shravani Mela beginning on July 23 and officials have incorported some new ideas to ensure the festival goes smoothly.

The death of one devotee due to suffocation inside the temple on Sunday made the administration more cautious as around 1 lakh devotees visit the Baba Dham temple every day during the Mela. Deoghar deputy commissioner Rahul Purwar said that like last year, the police have made a requisition for 6,000 police personnel to manage the rush of devotees.

"Security forces and members of the disaster management team will work round-the-clock throughout the month. We are expecting around 50 lakh 'kawariyas' this time. No stone will be left unturned to ensure fool-proof security and adequate facilities to the kawariyas," the DC said. Around 40 lakh kawariyas had visited the mela last year and the number swells every year.

Purwar held meetings with Deoghar SP, DSPs, and members of Panda Dharma Rakchhini Sabha (PDRS), the central body of the priests of the famous temple, and the Baidyanath Dham Temple Trust.

The district administration has made several changes in the traffic management plan this time. "Unlike last year, we will not allow any vehicle to enter the town during Shravani Mela," said Purwar.

Deoghar SP Ranjit Prasad said: "All kinds of vehicles from heavy to buses and cars will be stopped on the periphery of the town." The police will erect checkposts at various entry points to the city. In a first, the district administration will open the arghya system for the devotees who fail to pour water inside the holy sanctum of the temple. It will smoothen the process of pouring holy water that devotees carry from Sultanganj in Bihar on ord Shiva.

The administration has also made arrangements of water, health facilities like ambulances to tackle any emergency situation. Special deployment of forces will be made at the bus stand and railway station. The Shravani Mela is celebrated throughout the holy month of Shravan which falls in July-August. The month is considered to be auspicious for Hindus. The Shravani Mela begins from Sultanganj in Bihar from where devotees carry holy water of the Ganga and pour it on Lord Shiva at Baba Dham temple.

Source: The Times of India, DT. June 26, 2013.