SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, May 6: In a major decision aimed at ensuring convenience for general devotees, the Jharkhand government has announced a complete ban on out-of-turn VIP and VVIP darshan during the upcoming Shrawani Mela at Baba Baidyanath Dham in Deoghar.
This year, the month-long Deoghar–Basukinath Shrawani Mela will be held from July 4 to August 9, 2025.
The announcement was made during a high-level review meeting chaired by Urban Development, Tourism, Culture, and Youth Affairs Minister Sudivya Kumar in Deoghar on Tuesday. The meeting focused on preparations for the state-level Shrawani Mela at both Deoghar and Basukinath.
Deputy Commissioners Vishal Sagar (Deoghar) and A. Dodde (Dumka) presented detailed plans for the smooth conduct of the mela in their respective districts.
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Focus on Devotee Comfort and Security
Minister Sudivya Kumar emphasized that the decision to prohibit VIP and VVIP darshan has been taken in the larger interest of ordinary pilgrims. “This step is aimed at preventing inconvenience to general devotees and ensuring that their spiritual journey is memorable and hassle-free,” he said.
Every year, more than one lakh devotees, including international pilgrims and those from across India and Jharkhand, visit Baba Baidyanath to offer sacred Gangajal during Shrawani Mela. On Mondays, or Somvari, the footfall often exceeds 2.4 lakh, creating immense pressure on logistics and temple security arrangements.
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Key Officials Present at the Review Meeting
The meeting was attended by Deoghar MLA Suresh Paswan, Sarath MLA Uday Shankar Singh, Tourism Secretary Manoj Kumar, Director Anjali Yadav, Santhal Pargana Divisional Commissioner Lalchandra Dandel, along with senior officials from Deoghar and Dumka districts.
The minister instructed all departments to ensure full-fledged preparations are in place well in advance of the mela’s commencement.
