2024 Sawan Shivratri
Nawan Nagar, August 2024
The Sawan month (July-August in the Gregorian calendar) is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Devotees express their reverence through various practices, including fasting, reading holy scriptures, listening to devotional narratives, and undertaking the Kanwar Yatra pilgrimage. Sawan Shivratri falls on the 14th day of the Sawan month and marks the auspicious conclusion of the Kanwar Yatra pilgrimage.
On August 2 this year, Vishav Manav Ruhani Kendra (VMRK) celebrated Sawan Shivratri enthusiastically at its Nawan Nagar center. The entire center was illuminated with colorful lights and Sant Baljit Singh Ji’s dais was beautifully decorated in a traditional style. VMRK prepared a large shed for the kanwarias visiting the center to pay their respects to Sant Baljit Singh upon completing their pilgrimage. The seating area was lined with thin foam mattresses to provide comfort to the kanwarias after their strenuous pilgrimage.
VMRK invited professional singers to perform the Shiv Vivah Katha—a devotional narrative of the marriage of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. This performance attracted a large gathering of attendees who came to listen to the Shiv Vivah Katha and have darshan of Sant Baljit Singh Ji. Tents with mats were laid out in the two gardens at the center for the attendees. A large tent was also set up on the community grounds adjacent to the center to provide further seating. Multiple LED screens and audio equipment were installed across the seating areas so that everyone could enjoy the event.
Kanwarias celebrating at the VMRK center
On the day of Shivratri, devotional songs dedicated to Lord Shiva were played at the center from the early morning. As the day went on a large number of kanwarias and attendees started arriving at the center. A team of VMRK volunteers guided the crowd to the seating areas. Another team moved through these areas serving lassi (sweet buttermilk) to prevent dehydration due to the humid weather. A medical camp was set up at the center to offer free medical consultations, first aid, and medicines during the event.
The Sawan month falls during the summer monsoon season that brings frequent rainfall. Therefore, it came as no surprise that a downpour occurred at approximately 4 pm. The kanwarias gathered in the open area at the center and began dancing joyfully to the devotional songs in the rain. As the time for the event approached, the entire center was brimming with kanwarias and attendees.
Sant Baljit Singh Ji’s arrival
Shortly before Sant Baljit Singh Ji’s arrival in the evening, the kanwarias gathered in front of the dais. As Sant Baljit Singh Ji came out, he first draped two large garlands of flowers over the portrait of the Shiv Parivar (Lord Shiva’s Family) that hung on the dais. The kanwarias and attendees, longing for the darshan of Sant Baljit Singh Ji, were overjoyed with his presence. The kanwarias expressed their happiness by dancing and singing with heartfelt exuberance to the devotional songs that had been playing since morning. Meanwhile, Sant Baljit Singh Ji stood there appreciating their devotion to Lord Shiva as they danced and had darshan.
Shiv Vivah Katha performance
Approximately half an hour later, the professional singers commenced the Shiv Vivah Katha. As Sant Baljit Singh Ji took his seat, many kanwarias continued to dance in devotion to Lord Shiva while the singers recited the Shiv Vivah Katha. The attendees joined in by clapping along, as they enjoyed the katha. An atmosphere of devotion and spiritual bliss permeated the Nawan Nagar center.
Darshan program
Upon the conclusion of the Shiv Vivah Katha, the professional singers began performing devotional songs. At this time, the kanwarias assembled one by one in a queue and walked past the dais having Sant Baljit Singh Ji’s darshan from closer proximity. Around midnight, after the kanwarias darshan finished, attendees also lined up to have darshan. VMRK volunteers assisted the elderly and senior citizens with wheelchairs to take them past the dais. Meanwhile, the attendees waiting to have darshan and those who already had darshan, continued to enjoy the devotional songs.
The darshan program continued until early morning the following day. Subsequently, Sant Baljit Singh Ji addressed the crowd for around an hour explaining the importance of doing heartfelt devotion to God and encouraged everyone to reach the pinnacle of devotion.
