Pahari Mandir readies for Shrawan rush

With merely a week left for the holy month of ‘Shrawan’ to begin, the members of Pahari Mandir Vikash Samiti have begun the preparations for welcoming the devotees at this prime devotional site. From decorating the premises with garlands, lightings to beefing up the security during the rush hours, the members of the committee have drafted out the plans to manage the one month long affair smoothly.

Beginning the process with decoration of the premises, cleanliness of main temple including other small temples and minor repair work which includes revamping staircases, painting, constituting pickets is in progress. Continuing the system of Argha, this year again, in order to manage the footfall of the devotees, pilgrims will to do ‘Jalabhishek’ from a distance through a pipeline without touching the idol and entering inside the main temple.

Notably, considering the increasing number of devotees during Shrawan at Pahari Mandir, Argha system was introduced here in 2015 on the lines of ‘Baba Temple’ in Deoghar. Argha system enables the devotees to perform the Shrawan rituals without actually touching the deity. The system was introduced in Degohar a few years back to avoid any rush inside the ‘garbha griha’ (main temple).

Further, maintaining the timing, the priest would start the ritual from 3:30 AM on July 23 (First Monday) while the doors of the main temple would be opened up around 4:00 AM for the devotees. Meanwhile, from the safety perspective, installation of CCTV cameras, additional deployment of security forces especially on all Mondays and Sundays, fencing of areas-where civil construction work is going on is on the cards.

“The district administration has given the consent to depute extra security force on Mondays, Sundays to control the crowd while keeping eyes on the miscreant activities. Also, members of civil society will aid us in different ways during a month long affair. Over 22 CCTV cameras will be installed. For providing assistance in cleaning, supplying drinking water, solid waste management, the officials of Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) have been made aware about the requirements,” said, Officer (PR), Pahari Mandir Vikash Samiti, Mukesh Agarwal.

Ranchi DC, Rai Mahimapat Ray, during a recent meeting with the senior district administration officials including the members of Pahari Mandir Vikash Samiti has assured all support. During the meet, it was decided that the security force will be deployed on the spot in two shifts – 2 AM to 10 AM and 10 AM to 5 PM. All defects CCTV cameras will be replaced through outsourcing. The footage will be monitored from district control room.

In addition, idea of conducting massive plantation drive through planting the saplings of banana trees to avert soil erosion was also tabled during the meeting. “Department of Forest and Environment will be contacted to lend support to Pahari Mandir Vikash Samiti for massive plantation drive soon,” Agarwal added.