Patna: Preparations are in full swing for this year’s Shravani Mela, which will take place from 11 July to 9 August. Every day, around 2 to 2.5 lakh devotees are expected to carry holy water from Ajai Vi Nath Dham in Sultanganj and walk to Deoghar, a journey of over 100 km. Officials held a key meeting to make sure everything is ready for the large crowd.
The Railways has announced special trains during the mela. These will run on the Jamalpur–Sultanganj, Jamalpur–Deoghar, and Godda–Deoghar routes. All express trains will now stop at Sultanganj for two minutes. Sultanganj station will have 40 CCTV cameras, a resting place for 600 people, and full-time monitoring from a watch tower for extra safety.
In Bhagalpur, the 14 km long route that falls under the district will have drinking water points, electricity, health camps, and toilets. Cleaning work will be done in three shifts every day, and sweepers, food inspectors, and safety staff will be on duty. Barricades and lifeguards will be placed at Jahaj Ghat on the Ganga river, and boats will keep watch round the clock.
In Banka district, where the Kanwariya route is 55 km long, similar arrangements are being made. Temporary shelters, health centres, toilets, and drinking water will be available for the pilgrims. Police and safety staff will be present in large numbers, especially on busy days like Thursday, Sunday, and Monday, when the number of devotees is highest.
