Kotpad, 16th July 2025: Like various other places across the state, hundreds of Bolbam devotees (Kawariyas) thronged multiple Shaivite shrines in Kotpad town of Koraput district on the first Monday of the holy Shravan month to offer sacred water to Lord Shiva.
A significant crowd was also witnessed at Jhadeshwar Temple in Deuda village under Chandili Panchayat. As this Shaiva shrine is situated near the Odisha–Chhattisgarh border, devotees from both states gather here in large numbers every year.
On this auspicious day, the ghats of the region’s lifeline – the Indravati river – were bustling with Bolbam devotees. They collected sand from the riverbank and built sand Shivlingas, offering prayers and rituals as per tradition. After taking a vow (sankalpa), they set off towards the temples carrying the holy water.
As in previous years, this year too, large crowds of Bolbam devotees were seen at several Shaiva shrines across the Kotpad region, such as:
Neelakantheshwar Temple in Belema Sahi of Kotpad town
Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Badadanda
Chakrakot Temple in Hatpada
The shrine in Girla village
The Shaiva shrine in Deorli village
Dhabaleshwar Temple in Amadhamunda village
Each of these locations witnessed a grand turnout of devotees on this first Monday of Shravan.
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