Bhimashankar: With the onset of the holy month of Shravan, a massive influx of devotees is being witnessed at Shri Kshetra Bhimashankar, one of the 12 revered Jyotirlingas. Due to the sudden surge in visitors and inadequate queue management systems, pilgrims are forced to stand in lines for five to six hours. This situation at the very beginning of the month has caused severe inconvenience to visitors.

Ongoing development projects ahead of the upcoming Kumbh Mela are underway in the area. Although the work on the temple’s assembly hall (Sabhamandap) is complete, its capacity is proving insufficient given the sheer volume of devotees. Furthermore, as the structural layout of the sanctum sanctorum remains unchanged, movement remains slow.

Continuous rituals and pujas conducted by local priests near the Shivling during Shravan are further delaying the line. Consequently, devotees are urging the temple administration to establish a separate, direct viewing (‘mukh darshan’) queue outside the main complex and regulate the ritual timings. Tired of waiting for hours, many pilgrims are forced to return without having darshan.

“Standing in queues for five to six hours is causing immense difficulty for the elderly, women, and young children. The temple administration must manage the crowd efficiently and immediately set up a dedicated line for quick direct viewing.”

— Kamlesh Walse Patil, Devotee, Nirgudsar