Devotees Flock to Doleshwor Mahadev Temple on First Sombar of Shrawan
Kathmandu – The first Sombar (Monday) of the holy month of Shrawan is being observed with devotion across Nepal today, as thousands of Hindu devotees throng to Shiva temples to offer prayers and perform rituals.
Shrawan, considered the most auspicious month for Lord Shiva, sees special significance placed on Mondays. Devotees, especially women and young girls, observe fasting and wear green bangles and attire as a symbol of prosperity and marital happiness.
Major temples like Pashupatinath in Kathmandu, Doleshwor in Bhaktapur, and Halesi in Khotang are witnessing large crowds from early morning. Temple priests say that offering belpatra, dhaturo, milk, and water to Lord Shiva during this month is believed to bring blessings, fulfillment of wishes, and relief from hardships.
This year, the four Mondays of Shrawan fall on July 21, July 28, August 4, and August 11. Authorities have urged devotees to maintain cleanliness and follow safety protocols during the month-long observance.
Crowd at Doleshwor Mahadev
For over 4,000 years, a sacred mystery remained hidden from the world, a link between two powerful spiritual sites: Kedarnath in India and Doleshwar Mahadev in Nepal. It wasn’t until 2009 that this ancient connection was officially recognized. In a historic declaration, Shree 1008 Jagat Guru Bheemashaankarling Shivacharya, the revered head priest of Kedarnath, proclaimed Doleshwar Mahadev as the head of Lord Kedarnath, one of the four holy shrines in the Char Dham Yatra.
The story behind this revelation is deeply rooted in Hindu mythology. After the devastating war of Kurukshetra in the Mahabharata, the Pandav brothers were burdened with guilt for the immense bloodshed. Seeking redemption, they journeyed to the Himalayas to ask Lord Shiva for forgiveness. However, Shiva, displeased and unwilling to meet them, chose to evade their pleas. Disguised as a bull, he attempted to hide from the Pandavs.
But the brothers were determined. When they finally discovered Shiva’s disguise, they tried to catch him. In the struggle, the bull’s body vanished into the earth, leaving only the head behind. According to the legend, the place where the body disappeared is today’s Kedarnath, while the separated head is believed to have emerged in Doleshwor, Nepal.
This tale has been preserved in sacred Hindu scriptures such as the Shiva Purana and passed down through generations. Yet, for millennia, the link between the two locations remained veiled in mystery. The 2009 declaration brought clarity and spiritual significance, establishing Doleshwar not just as a local shrine, but as a divine counterpart to one of Hinduism’s most important pilgrimage sites.
Today, pilgrims who visit Kedarnath often acknowledge Doleshwor Mahadev as its spiritual extension, the long-lost head of Lord Shiva finally recognized, completing a sacred puzzle that had remained unsolved for centuries.
Being the holy pilgrimage destination of Hindus, Doleshwor Mahadev is always crowded on every auspicious occasion. Shrawan Sombar, being the most important day tied to lord Shiva, Doleshwor Mahadev is experiencing heavy crowd of devotees. The sacred temple of Doleshwor Mahadev in Bhaktapur witnessed an overwhelming surge of devotees on the first Monday (Sombar) of the holy Shrawan month. Dressed in traditional saffron attire, thousands of pilgrims, both young and old, stood in long queues from the early morning hours, carrying offerings of belpatra, milk, and water to perform rituals and seek blessings from Lord Shiva. The air resonated with the sound of temple bells and chants of “Om Namah Shivaya,” creating a spiritually charged atmosphere across the historic town.
