Faith’s torrent sweeps Deoghar as Basant Panchami nears, with Baba Baidyanath at its epicenter. Pilgrims from Mithilanchal, calling themselves ‘sasuraliye,’ have descended upon the Jyotirlinga site, filling the atmosphere with divine fervor and chants.
Friday’s Saraswati puja coincides with Deoghar’s iconic tilak ceremony for Shiva. Abhishek followed by colorful revelry marks the day, weaving religious rites with cultural heritage from Mithila to this shrine.
Expectations run high with 200,000-plus arrivals. The custom traces to lore where Shiva weds Parvati, positioning him as Mithilanchal’s son-in-law—a vast area from Bihar to Nepal Terai. Pre-Mahashivratri, they perform tilak and jalarpan.
A lakh-strong contingent from Muzaffarpur, Sitamarhi, Saharsa, and Nepali districts camps alfresco, honoring the no-overnight-stay-at-damad’s-home norm. Scores complete the grueling Sultanganj Kanwar, chanting matrimonial melodies.
Offerings include first harvest, ghee sweets, jal, igniting Holi vibes. Temple rituals feature phulel, tilak by priests. Shiv-Parvati wedding awaits in 25 days. DC Naman Priyesh Lakda’s directives cover crowd management, sanitation, water, health, electricity.
Strict no-VVIP darshan; elevated coupon fees for priority access. Deoghar exemplifies living mythology.