Devotees perform rituals at the Pahari temple in Ranchi. Picture by Ashok Karan

Ranchi, July 12: While some prayed for early marriages, others wished for a child. For other devotees, the wish list mentioned prosperity, at Pahari Mandir on Ratu Road on the first day of Sawaan today.

Located amid the lush green ambience, the otherwise quite Shiva temple turned into a hub of activity due to the presence of devotees, especially women, and hawkers. Those seeking an audience with the god had to trek the 300 stairs leading to the temple.

?This is one of those festivals when it is believed that all wishes would be fulfilled if we prayed during the month of Sawaan,? said Dimple Sinha, a devotee. So what does she wish for? ?My mother asked me to visit the temple and pray so that my marriage would take place soon.?

Several young women, dressed in their best, were seen visiting the temple accompanied by their relatives.

Throughout the month women apply mehendi and wear green clothes, as the ?festival heralds the beginning of autumn?, she added. Devotees also abstain from non-vegetarian food during this month.

If Dimple wanted to seek the god?s blessing for marriage, Rajshree Sharma, an expectant mother, wanted to seek blessings for her child. ?I got married four months ago. I am, visiting the temple on the first day of the festival for the well-being of my child, which I am expecting,? she said.

Many more like her started thronging the temple since 4 am. The priests got busy and started arranging the puja items and chants of mantras filled the air. About 10,000 devotees ? including those from Ramgarh, Hazaribagh, Jamshedpur, Bundu, Tamar and Chano, among others ? visited the temple today.

Vendors, too, decided to make the most of the festive fervour. At least 50 makeshift kiosks have come up on the path leading to the temple, selling puja items such as coconut, sweets, makhana, red clothes, flowers, incense sticks and bhang.

?Such festivals are a boon for us as we sell, on an average, items worth Rs 500 per day,? said Maya Devi, a vendor. Bhang seems to be the fastest selling puja item.

?We started selling bhang only recently, after several devotees requested for it. They said the rituals are incomplete unless bhang is offered to the god,? added Devi.

To the benefit, and relief, of the devotees, the Jharkhand Tourism Development Corporation had renovated the temple about two years ago. ?The stairs were dilapidated and devotees used to find it difficult to climb them to reach the temple,? said a priest, Ram Kumar. ?But now, after the renovation, devotees find it quite easy to climb the hill.?