Bharatpur. Chitwan: The Bolbam Mela, which is held every Monday of Saun, has started in the morning at shiva temples in Chitwan, including the holy pilgrimage site Devghatdha. On this day, devotees take a bath and worship Shiva by offering holy water and belpatra.

According to The Devghat Area Development Committee, the Bolbam Fair has started from today at Devghatdham in Chitwan. According to scriptures, the holy month of the year is Saun and beyond Monday is considered as the holy day.

Executive Director of Devghat Area Development Committee, Sadan Baral, said that devotees have reached Devghat dham since 4 am to take bath. According to him, the devotees who came on Sunday evening took a bath at 4 am and worshiped Shiva and took water.

Along with Devghat, devotees are also busy offering prayers at Mahakaleshwar Temple in Bharatpur, Kailashnath Mahadev Temple, Gopeshwar Temple in Gaindakot, Madi, Kalika and Ratnanagar.

This fair is also celebrated as Bol Om Mela. Men and women have come to Devghat wearing yellow clothes and bathing barefoot.

People from different districts of Nepal and also from India come to devghatdham, which is located at the confluence of Chitwan, Tanahun and Nawalparasi. Smoking and mid-day meals have now been banned in Devghat. Director Baral said that this year devghat has been banned with a campaign to make it plastic-free.

He said that the river has been polluted due to plastic used to bring abir, akshata and incense sticks while coming to the fair and it would be strictly banned in the coming days.

Mohan Pokharel, a local, said that worshiping Shiva with holy water and belpatra of Devghat will fulfill his wishes and bring happiness and peace to the family. On all the five Mondays of The Month of Saun, nirahara fast is observed and bathed early in the morning and belpatra and Gangajal are offered to the Shiva temple.

In this way, married women wish for the longevity of their husbands and the happiness of the family, while unmarried women wish for a good husband. During this time, women are dressed in green clothes and bangles and henna. According to the mela management committee, police and volunteers have also been mobilized in the fair in view of the possible incident.

According to the committee, data collection of devotees visiting Devghat has also been done throughout the month of Saun this year.