Varanasi, July 25 (ANI): Carrying assortment of religious offerings, devout Hindus thronged lord Shiva temples in north India to offer special prayers, as they marked the auspicious second Monday of month long 'Shravan' festival. The devotees on Monday gathered in large numbers to offer milk, curd, ghee, honey and holy water to Lord Shiva in wee hours of morning. Long queues of people waiting with assortment of religious offerings like joss sticks, red vermilion and flowers were seen outside the temples. The saffron-clad devotees of Lord Shiva known as Kanwaria take their foot journey to the Hindu pilgrimage places of Haridwar, Gaumukh and Gangotri in Uttarakhand to fetch holy waters of Ganges River. Raj Kumar Yadav, one among the Kanwarias said that during this month long Shravan festival, believers perform rituals and make offerings especially on Monday because it is considered auspicious for bringing peace and prosperity to every household. According to the Hindu calendar, Shravan is the fifth holy month and Shravani mela begins on Shravan Amavasya, no moon day in Shravan month and ends on Shravan purnima, full moon day in Shravan month. Devotees come to sought blessing of Lord Shiva for peace and prosperity of their families. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, during the month devotee
