Sawan's First Monday in Kashi: Record Crowds and Divine Fervour at Kashi Vishwanath Dham
The sacred month of Sawan has begun, and Varanasi is once again immersed in devotion. On the first Monday of Sawan 2026, Shri Kashi Vishwanath Dham witnessed an extraordinary sea of devotees, with serpentine queues stretching from Godowlia and Maidagin long before sunrise. Chants of "Har Har Mahadev" echoed through the lanes as pilgrims waited patiently for a glimpse of Baba Vishwanath. Sawan, or Shravan, is considered the month dearest to Lord Shiva. Mondays of this month, known as Sawan Somwar, hold special significance: devotees observe fasts and offer jalabhishek, sacred Ganga water poured over the Shivling. In Kashi, home to one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, the ritual carries a unique charm, as devotees fill Ganga jal at the ghats and carry it through the grand Kashi Vishwanath Corridor to the sanctum. The corridor, with its spacious courtyards and organised queue systems, has made darshan smoother even on peak days. Volunteers, water points and medical booths supported the flow of pilgrims, while the ghats glowed with a saffron wave of kanwariyas moving toward the Dham. The devotion was not limited to the main temple. The ancient Gauri Kedareshwar Mandir at Kedar Ghat, counted among Kashi's oldest Shiva shrines, also drew large crowds, as did neighbourhood Shiva temples across the city. With more Sawan Mondays ahead, pilgrims are advised to plan darshan in the early morning or late evening, follow the official queue arrangements, and stay hydrated. Kashi's most beautiful month has only just begun.
Compiled by HelloBanaras from public sources: