Devotees throng Shivalayas for Shivling Jalabhishek on first Sawan Monday

Long queues of a large number of devotees can be seen in Shiva temples chanting ‘Har Har Mahadev’ and ‘Bol Bam’.

New Delhi: The Nation is celebrating the first Monday of Sawan with reverence and devotion today. All the Shiva Temples across the Nation have been decked up for the occasion, reports Dynamite News correspondent.

Long queues of a large number of devotees can be seen in Shiva temples chanting 'Har Har Mahadev' and 'Bol Bam'. Many of the devotees are observing fast. They are performing Jalabhishek on Shivling to seek blessings of 'Bhole Nath'. Quite a good number of devotees are also participating in Kanwar Yatra.

This Sawan there are four Mondays, the first being today. By worshiping Mahadev on this day, the seeker gets relief from stress, disease and debt. Also, happiness and peace remain in life.

Lets now know the worship method and importance of this day

• Observe fast and after a bath wear new clothes.
• Maintain purity in mind, speech and action.
• Offer Gangajal, milk, curd, ghee, honey and sugar on Shivling.
• Bilvapatra, Dhatura, Bhasma, white flowers and cannabis are considered to be the main items to offer to Lord Shiva.
• Chanting Shiv Chalisa, Mahamrityunjaya Mantra or “Om Namah Shivaya” mantra during the puja is extremely fruitful.
• During fasting eat some fruits and break the fast in the evening with milk, fruits or sago etc.
• Milk products like milk, curd, buttermilk, cheese, ghee give strength to the body and do not let there be a lack of nutrition during the fast.
• Dry fruits like almonds, cashews, raisins, dates are also good options for fasting, which give energy to the body. You can also drink coconut water, which is extremely beneficial for keeping the body hydrated.
• Some special vegetables like sweet potato, gourd, potato and arbi are easily digested. These can also be consumed during fasting. Also, rock salt, black pepper and green coriander are useful for increasing the taste of fasting food.

You can eat these things during fasting

• While fasting in Shravan, one should consume such food, which provides energy to the body but is not heavy. During this time you can eat fruit salad. Fresh fruits cool the body and maintain energy.
• You can also eat Rajgira paratha during fasting. It is light and tasty, which can be eaten with curd or chutney.
• Foods like sago, makhana, arrowroot, buckwheat are eaten during fasting, from which paratha, khichdi or halwa can also be prepared.
• Eat light food during this time, so that there is no excess burden on the stomach.
• Take fiber-rich food so that digestion is good.
• Adopt a satvik diet, so that both body and mind get peace.
• Drink plenty of water during the fast and keep the body hydrated.

Avoid these things during the fast:

The grains, rice, wheat and pulses, which are considered forbidden in the fast. Onion, garlic and radish are not eaten in vegetables. The use of turmeric, asafoetida and red chilli in spices is considered forbidden. Use only rock salt in the fast.