Baba Garibnath Temple in Bihar draws over 150,000 devotees for Sawan water ceremony

On Monday, 3 August, the Baba Garibnath Temple in Muzaffarpur, Bihar, became the focal point of the first Monday of the Sawan month. Approximately 50‑60 thousand pilgrims had already taken part in the water‑ablution ritual by early morning, and officials expected the total to exceed 150 000 by evening.

Devotees walked up to 87 km from the Peerja Ghat, carrying Ganga water, while many arrived from other districts of Bihar and neighboring states. The district administration deployed extensive police forces, CCTV, drones and a cyber‑monitoring team to manage crowds and traffic. Senior Police Superintendent Kantesh Kumar Mishra noted that major intersections were secured and the Patna‑Muzaffarpur highway was restricted to emergency vehicles. Temple priest Vinay Pathak said the staff ensured orderly queues so that each pilgrim could offer water at the deity’s head without inconvenience.

The event highlighted the region’s religious fervour and the authorities’ logistical coordination to maintain safety during the massive gathering.