New Delhi: The holy month of Sawan commenced on Thursday with thousands of devotees across the country flocking to Shiva temples to offer prayers and seek the blessings of Lord Shiva. In Bihar's capital Patna, devotees visited various Shiva temples early in the morning to perform 'jalabhishek' and offer prayers to Lord Shiva. In Rishikesh, thousands of devotees and Kanwariyas started arriving at prominent Shiva temples, including the famous Neelkanth Mahadev Temple, from midnight onwards. In neighbouring Noida, devotees gathered at the Sanatan Temple in Sector 19 to mark the beginning of the holy month. This year, the holy month of Sawan begins on July 30 and will conclude on August 28, drawing millions of devotees to temples and pilgrimage sites across the country.