Mumbai, August 6, 2013: The Maharashtrian holy observances of Shravan are set to begin on Wednesday with most people abstaining from meat and alcohol during the month of fasting. Some do not shave their beard for the entire length of time while others walk barefoot.

Although the new moon night falls on Tuesday, this year, revellers opted to drink their fill ahead of Gatari Amavasya. "Maharashtrians do not drink or eat non-vegetarian food on Monday or Tuesday, and since Gatari occurs on Tuesday, they chose to indulge over the weekend instead. Footfalls at our establishment rose by 10% over Saturday and Sunday," says Bhoja Pujari, manager of Shiv Krupa Bar, Lalbaug.

Traffic personnel were deployed across Mumbai on Monday night and the drive was carried out till the wee hours of Tuesday.

In Bhuleshwar, vegetarian restaurant Surti has drafted a special menu of fasting foods like sabudana wada, potato cutlets, khichdi, rajgira puri bhaji and sweet kachori for the festival. Owner Sankarshan Nayak says, "The number of patrons does not increase but the orders are different in this month."

Thane priest Prakash Pendse has a full schedule of pujas lined up. "Shravan in north India began on July 23 and ours starts on August 7, because each region follows a different almanac. Prayer rituals are dedicated to all gods, but Lord Shiva is the focus of worship throughout. Clients request for pujas in homes and temples. Designated prayers are performed on each day of the week and the Satyanarayan katha is a common feature during Shravan," he says.

But, a gloom is palpable among worshippers in north India owing to the Uttarakhand floods. The Char Dham pilgrimage is dedicated to Lord Shiva and throngs of pilgrims would worship him during Shravan, particularly in Kedarnath. Pendse says the tragedy shadow has not discouraged Shivbhakts in Mumbai-Thane, though.

Source: The Times of India, August 6, 2013