Bhairav Ashtami was today celebrated as ‘Bhairav Jayanti’ with religious fervour at Jwalamukhi Bhairav temple. A large number of devotees paid obeisance at the Kaal Bhairav temple in Jwalamukhi.

The famous Jwalamukhi temple is located adjacent to the Bhairav temple in the foothills of Kalidhar. Pilgrims started thronging the temple in the wee hours of this morning to have a glimpse of the idol of Lord Bhairava.

Temple Officer, Jwalamukhi temple, D N Yadav said as per the past practice, a langar was organised for pilgrims visiting the ancient Bharav temple.

He said pilgrims, along with their families, did ‘Bhairav Abhishek’. The Bhairav temple forest was humming with a large number of pilgrims, he added.

Prabal Shastri, Principal of Sanskrit college of Jawalamukhi, said chameli (jasmine) flower had its significance during the worshipping of Bhairav and devotees use this flower in abundance during the worship.Lord Bhairav was worshiped preferably between midnight till 0300 hrs as Bhairav was lord of the night. He said worshipping Lord Bhairav helped in avoiding untimely and unnatural death and provided protection from the wrong impact of stars.

Long queues of pilgrims were seen outside the temple, waiting for their turn to pay obeisance before the idol of Bhairav. Havan was also performed by priests to seek the blessings of Lord Bhairav.