Basukinath

Basukinath is a city and notified area in the Dumka district in the Indian state of Jharkhand.

Basukinath
city
Basukinath
Location in Jharkhand, India
Basukinath
Basukinath (India)
Coordinates: 24.39°N 87.08°E / 24.39; 87.08
Country India
StateJharkhand
DistrictDumka
Languages
 • OfficialHindi, Santali
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
Vehicle registrationJH
Websitehttps://a.top-drama.com/

Location

Basukinath is located in the Dumka district of Jharkhand. It lies on the Deoghar-Dumka state highway, about 25km northwest of Dumka.

Basukinath is a place of pilgrimage for Hindus. The Basukinath Temple is the main attraction, situated on the Jasidih Dumka New Railway Line. Ranchi Airport is the nearest airport; it is situated at Jarmundi Block on the Dumka Deoghar State Highway at a distance of 24km from the district headquarters of Dumka.

Throughout the year, many people from different parts of India come to Basukinath to worship a god named Lord Shiva. During the month of Shraavana, people from other countries also attend to worship Lord Shiva. It is believed that when the temple gates are open, Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati meet here. Hence, the devotees are asked to step away from the gates at such time.

Before India's Independence, Basukinath was a part of the Handwa state, whose last queen was Rani Sonabati; this is inscribed on a plate at the top of the gate between the temple and the sacred pond (shivganga). There is a well inside the sacred pond and Shivling (a sacred shiv stone), which can be seen during the cleaning of the pond, which occurs every few years.

Demographics

As of the 2001 Indian census,[1] Basukinath had a population of 14,119 (52% men, 48% women). Basukinath has an average literacy rate of 54%, lower than the national average of 59.5%; with 62% of men and 38% of women literate. 17% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Religion

Basukinath serves as a place of pilgrimage for Hindus.[2] The Basukinath Temple is a popular attraction.[2]

Wall sculpture of Lord Shiva at Basukinath Dham, Jharkhand, India

Shravan Mela
Devotees of Shiva moving chanting Bol Bam

Basukinath is famous for the mela of Shraavana (a month of the Hindu calendar), between July and August. Many devotees visit the place from various parts of India and offer holy water from the Ganges River to the deity collected from Sultangunj, a Bhagalpur district in Bihar which is almost 135 km from Basukinath. An unbroken line of people in saffron-dyed clothes stretch over the path between Bhagalpur and Basukinath, which can be seen during the fair. Some pilgrims are called "Bol Bam" whenever they pour holy water on the shivling after 4–5 days of journeying. They can also stop at many places during the journey itself. While some pilgrims are called Dak Bam, and do not even stop once on their journey from Bhagalpur to Basukinath. The pilgrims en route to Basukinath will also visit the Baidyanath Jyotirlinga in Deogarh.[3]

Ram Janki Vivah Utsav

Vivah Panchami is a Hindu festival celebrating the marriage of Rama and Sita. It is observed on the fifth day of Shukla Paksha or the moon's waxing phase during the Margashirsha month (November – December) as per the Hindu calendar. The day is observed as the Vivah Utsav of Sita and Rama in temples and sacred places associated with Sri Rama. Pandit Nainalal Jha and Pradhan Tirth Purohit Baba Basukinath started the festival of "Ram Janki Vivah Utsav" in Basukinath.[4] A baraat which included elephants and horses participated in the procession as well. Presently it is taken forward by his son Pandit Tara Kant Jha.

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References
  1. "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 16 June 2004. Retrieved 1 November 2008.
  2. "Basukinath is located in Dumka District of Jharkhand". Archived from the original on 7 October 2007. Retrieved 1 August 2007.
  3. "Month-long Shrawani Mela ends". The Times of India. 6 August 2009. Retrieved 6 April 2010.
  4. "Ram Janki Vivah Utsav at Basukinath Dham Deoghar | Explore Bihar". Retrieved 4 August 2020.
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