Dumka: The month-long Shravani Mela was inaugurated with religious rituals at Dumma along the Jharkhand-Bihar border in Deoghar and Basukinath Dham in Dumka district on Wednesday. The fair will be held from July 30 to Aug 28.At Dumma, tourism minister Sudivya Kumar and rural development minister Deepika Pandey Singh opened the fair after offering prayers to Lord Baidyanath in the presence of 11 priests. Deoghar MLA Suresh Paswan, Sarath MLA Uday Shankar Singh, Jarmundi MLA Devendra Kunwar and Deoghar mayor Ravi Raut attended the ceremony.Sudivya said the administration would use technology to improve crowd management and ensure pilgrims’ safety and convenience. AI-based surveillance systems have been installed, while a QR code-based grievance mechanism will allow kanwariyas to report problems for prompt redressal, he said.Deepika said Deoghar was prepared to receive pilgrims from across the country. “Our collective effort is to ensure every devotee returns with a safe, pleasant and memorable experience,” she said.Deoghar deputy commissioner Saurabh Kumar Bhuwania said VIP, VVIP and out-of-turn darshan would be prohibited during the mela in accordance with state govt directives.The administration has deployed automatic number plate recognition, facial recognition and headcount cameras. It has also introduced a QR code-based complaint system under which officials have promised action within 15 minutes. A Shivlok exhibition, cultural programmes and a drone show are among the other attractions planned during the fair.At Basukinath Dham, the mela was inaugurated in the presence of MLA Kunwar, Santhal Pargana commissioner Sanjay Kumar, Dumka DC Abhijeet Sinha, SP Pitambar Singh Kherwar and deputy development commissioner Aniket Sachan.Sanjay said the pilgrimage was traditionally considered complete after devotees offered prayers at Basukinath following darshan at Baidyanath Dham. “Every pilgrim is our guest, and their safety, dignity and convenience must remain our foremost responsibility,” he said.Sinha said nearly 3,000 police personnel, 700 magistrates, 150 doctors and 20 ambulances had been deployed for the mela. The arrangements also include AI-enabled CCTV surveillance, a tent city with a capacity of 5,000 people, sanitation facilities and parking space for nearly 20,000 vehicles.
Devotees cross the border in Dumma
Ministers perform rituals on Wednesday
