Devotees' temp check, barricading, sanitisation: How Delhi's Gauri Shankar Temple is prepared for Sawan Somwar

Today, entire India is celebrating the first 'Somvar' of Sawan month. The month is marked by complete devotion to Lord Shiva and observing fasts, especially on Mondays, which are dedicated to Lord Shiva and are known as ‘Shravan or Sawan Somvar Vrat’. Some even, observe fasts on Tuesdays, which was known as ‘Mangala Gauri Vrat’.

On the first Monday of 'Sawan' (Shravan) month, devotees started coming to Lord Shiva temples in different parts of the country from the early morning to offer prayers.

At Gauri Shankar Temple in Delhi's Chandni Chowk, the temperature of devotees is being checked with a thermometer gun, as a precautionary measure that has become a new normal.

However, the usual hustle-bustle is missing at the temple due to coronavirus outbreak which has affected the lives of people across the globe.

A priest at Gauri Shankar Temple said: "We pray to Lord Shiva to free us from coronavirus. We have done barricading, ensuring social distancing and temple premise is being regularly sanitised. We are not allowing anyone to offer water."

"Many things have changed at the temple. Social distancing is being maintained. People are not allowed to gather at one place," a devotee told ANI.

Delhi: Devotees offer prayers at Gauri Shankar Temple in Chandni Chowk on the first Monday of 'sawan' month. Temperature of devotees is also being checked with thermometer gun, as a precautionary measure to contain the spread of #Coronavirus. pic.twitter.com/YCQY3klqY9

— ANI (@ANI) July 6, 2020

Shravan, the fifth month in the Hindu calendar, is considered to be the most auspicious month of the year. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva who, according to Hindu religious beliefs, is the creator, preserver, and destroyer of this universe.

While Lord Shiva is worshipped on Mondays throughout the year, Mondays during this particular month are considered highly significant and auspicious. The festival is predominantly celebrated in North Indian states. It is believed that on 'sawan ke somwar' (Mondays falling in the month of Shravan), devotees observe a special fast and visit Shiva temples.

The month of Sawan marks the start of the monsoon season in India. This year the month of Sawan or Shravan is starting on 6th July 2020 and the month will conclude on 3rd August. The end of Sawan will be celebrated with Rakshabandhan.