The 105-km-long stretch between Sultanganj and Deoghar can easily stake claim to an entry in the record books for being the longest saffron road during the month of Shravan every year.

Right from the colour of the attire of kanwariyas (devotees) going to Deoghar to offer prayers to Lord Shiva, roadside kiosks to dharmasalas (roadside inns) and government buildings such as schools - everything on the kanwariya path (pilgrims' road) transforms into saffron. The pilgrims walk barefoot to Deoghar from Sultanganj.

"The caravan of saffron-clad kanwariyas can be spotted round-the-clock during the one-month period," said Raman Sinha, a senior teacher in the faculty of history in Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University.

The sea of saffron on the entire stretch of the pilgrims' road comprises disciplined pilgrims chanting "Bom" to address any individual, including creatures.

If someone's name is Ram, kanwariyas call him as "Ram Bom" or creatures such as dogs as "Bhairo Bom". It reflects the basic concept of universal brotherhood, the basic philosophy of Lord Shiv," said Shaniroop Mukerjee, a priest of Kamakkha temple in Assam, who comes to Sultanganj during the month-long Shravani Mela every year.

"My father told me that he used to undertake the holy journey just for peace. He died along with my mother in the earthquake this year. After the tragic incident, I have brought along my wife and five-year-old son in search of peace," said Yogesh Bahadur (34), a pilgrim from Nepal. "I could at least overcome my pain. It was due to this that I could complete the holy journey so far," said Yogesh's wife Subhadhra in a relaxed mood at a dharmasala near Katoria on Wednesday evening.

The family had already covered a distance of 64km from Sultanganj.

Former Banka district magistrate Deepak Anand had initiated the painting drive of the roadside government buildings in saffron in 2012 to help the pilgrims in easy identification of their resting place inside Banka. "From time to time, some troublemakers raise objection to the saffron-painting project and try to promote it differently but they hardly do anything for the pilgrim's route," said an officer, preferring anonymity, at Banka.

The route is tough to trudge and the government is also trying to add facilities that could help pilgrims in the gruelling walk.