Pashupatinath draws crowds of devotees on first Monday of Shrawan (Pictures)

Nabin Babu Gurung

Kathmandu, July 20

A large number of devotees visited the Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu on the first Monday of the month of Shrawan according to the Nepali calendar.

As Shrawan is considered the month dedicated to Lord Shiva and Monday is regarded as his day, devotees including those observing fasts have flocked to Pashupatinath since early morning to offer prayers and seek blessings.

Devotees had begun arriving at the temple as early as 3 a.m.

According to religious belief, offering pure water to Lord Shiva during Shrawan fulfills one’s wishes. Many devotees also visit Pashupatinath with the belief that fasting and worshiping Lord Shiva on Mondays during Shrawan brings lasting good fortune.

In Nepal, the traditional practice is to observe fasts on Mondays according to the solar calendar. However, at the Pashupatinath Temple, large crowds of devotees gather on Mondays in Shrawan according to both the lunar and solar calendars.