Bhubaneswar: Thousands of Kanwariyas today waited in long queues to offer holy water to Lord Shiva at temples across Odisha on the occasion of first Monday of Hindu month Shraavana.

The Bol Bam devotees, dressed in saffron-coloured clothes, started their journey in groups last night after picking up water in small pots from various rivers in order to offer it to the deity.

Security arrangements were made at major Lord Shiva temples in the state including the Lingaraja Temple in Bhubaneswar, Lokanath Temple in Puri and Akhandalamani Temple in Bhadrak in view of the gathering of the devotees.

On the other hand, internationally acclaimed sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik sculpted a sand art at Bhubaneswar airport on the occasion with the message "Omm Namah Shivaya"

May #LordShiva help all of us reach the ultimate.
Today is #FirstMondayOfShravan, My SandArt at Bhubaneswar airport with message Omm Namah Shivaya. pic.twitter.com/cZddGSle8C

— Sudarsan Pattnaik (@sudarsansand) July 30, 2018