From early morning on Sawan Monday, large numbers of devotees gathered at Kanpur's major Shiva temples. Long queues were seen outside several temples as people arrived from the morning hours to perform jalabhishek and offer prayers to Lord Shiva. Temple premises echoed with chants of "Har Har Mahadev" and "Bol Bam."
Amid the growing crowds, Kanpur Mayor Pramila Pandey reached a temple on an e-scooter. She opted for the e-scooter considering the traffic pressure across the city and the congestion around temples on Sawan Monday. Videos and photographs of the mayor arriving at the temple were widely discussed.
Devotees continued to arrive throughout the morning for jalabhishek. Many stood in queues carrying Ganga water, bel leaves, flowers, milk and other worship materials. The crowds were so large that queues extended onto the roads outside several temples.
During the day, a BJP Member of Parliament also visited a temple to offer prayers. Instead of entering through a VIP route, the MP stood in line with other devotees and waited for their turn before offering prayers. Photographs of the MP standing in the queue also emerged.
The administration and police deployed security arrangements in view of the crowds. Devotees were allowed to enter the temples in an orderly manner, while police personnel and volunteers were stationed at crowded locations.
The number of devotees began increasing from the first morning prayers on Sawan Monday, with many people reaching temples before sunrise. As the day progressed, queues outside the temples continued to grow longer.
Major Shiva temples in Kanpur were specially decorated for the occasion. Floral decorations were put in place, and special prayers were conducted. Devotees offered bel leaves and Ganga water to Lord Shiva and prayed for the well-being and prosperity of their families.
Barricades were installed at several locations to regulate the crowds. Separate entry and exit routes were created at temples to prevent congestion, while police continuously appealed to devotees to maintain order.
The mayor's decision to travel by e-scooter was also linked to the city's traffic arrangements, as the areas around the temples witnessed much heavier crowds than on normal days. Travelling in a larger vehicle could have resulted in traffic congestion.
The BJP MP's decision to stand in the queue with other devotees also remained a subject of discussion. The MP waited for their turn alongside other worshippers before entering the temple for darshan.
Devotees said that the large turnout at temples on Sawan Monday reflected their faith. Many said they had left their homes early in the morning but still encountered long queues upon reaching the temples. They said their enthusiasm remained unchanged despite the waiting time.
Outside several temples, local residents and social organisations arranged drinking water and prasad for devotees. Water was made available amid the heat and humidity.
Every Monday during the Sawan month, Kanpur's temples receive large numbers of devotees. However, the first Sawan Monday drew an even larger turnout because of its special religious importance. People from distant areas also arrived at the city's major temples to offer prayers.
To manage traffic around the temples, police stopped and diverted vehicles at several locations to facilitate the movement of devotees.
Temple authorities expected worship to continue throughout the day. In view of the crowds, the administration appealed to devotees to remain patient and follow the designated queues for darshan.
On Sawan Monday, Kanpur's temples remained centres of religious observance, with long queues of devotees, Mayor Pramila Pandey arriving on an e-scooter for darshan, and a BJP MP standing in line with other devotees before offering prayers to Lord Shiva.
