Bhagalpur, July 24, 2013: The month-long ShrawaniMela was officially declared open by the revenue and land reforms minister RamaiRam at Sirhighat in Sultanganj amidst huge gathering of kanwarias and chanting of 'bol bum' mantra on Tuesday. Ram was accompanied by former MP and JD (U) MLA from Sultanganj Subodh Rai, Banka MP Putul Devi beside others.

Much to the applause of kanwarias and local citizens, the revenue minister said that efforts have been made for safety and security, stay, health camps, drinking water, sanitation, lighting on streets besides uninterrupted power supply to the Sultanganj area during the month long Shravani Mela.

Major part of the trek route (nearly 85km) falls under Bihar (in Bhagalpur and Banka districts) and hence the electricity board has endeavored to repair the electrical infrastructure for better supply of electricity, added Ram saying the Centre too has to act as a team and allocate more electricity from the central pool for the benefit of pilgrims and citizens of this region.

Referring to developmental works in the kanwaria trek route, Ram said lighting facilities besides trek routes have been developed. Construction of new trekking paths, culverts etc on trek routes have been constructed to make it easy for the pilgrims. Stressing on the importance of Sultanganj for Shrawani Mela, the minister said that each year there has been marked improvement in infrastructure and facilities ever since Nitish Kumar took over the state.

"The entire area, now abuzz with kanwarias, will be developed into a full-fledged urban center with modern amenities to provide facilities to the pilgrims," Ram added saying, "Number of kanwarias are swelling each year and our government is very much concerned to the growing needs of kanwarias. All sorts of facilities on the entire stretch of the trek path from Sultanganj and onwards has been planned."

It may be important to mention here that Shrawani Mela is held in July and continues for a month. More than a crore pilgrims from across the country and neighbouring countries like Nepal and Bhutan reach Sultanganj to pay obeisance to Lord Shiva. Devotees, on the first leg of journey, gather at Sultanganj to collect holy water from river Ganga at Sultanganj ghat, where the Ganga becomes Uttarvahini (river turns flowing towards north).

Devotees trek nearly 105 kilometers on foot carrying kanwars on their shoulder and holy water from Ganges. They chant 'bolo bum' mantra all through the trek route. Major part of the trek route falls under Bhagalpur and Banka districts while temple is in Deoghar. On reaching Deoghar (Jharkhand), the devotees pay obeisance to Lord Shiva.

Expressing satisfaction over the arrangements made for the Mela, the revenue minister said trek routes have been developed and all the basic amenities have been provided, but much more would be added in the years to come. JD (U) MLA Subodh Rai demanded formation of 'Sultanganj Shrawani Mela Authority' (SSMA) for the development and management of Shrawani Mela in the area.

Earlier, the minister and other leaders tried to highlight the achievements of the state government since coming to power in the state. He also referred to the steps for development including construction or roads during their governance. Prominent leaders who also spoke included JD (U) MLAs Gopal Mandal, Ajay Mandal, Banka MP Putul Devi beside others.

Present on the occasion were divisional commissioner Minhaj Alam, IG of police Jitendra Kumar, DM Prem Singh Meena, SSP Rajesh Kumar and senior officials from Bhagalpur division.

Source: Times of India, Dt: July 24, 2013