Deoghar

Deoghar is a Hindi word and the literal meaning of ‘Deoghar’ is abode (‘ghar’) of the Gods and Goddesses (‘dev’). Deoghar is also known as “Baidyanath Dham”, “Baba Dham”, “B. Deoghar”. The origin of Baidyanathdham is lost in antiquity. It has been referred to as Haritakivan or Ketakivan in Sanskrit Texts. The name Deoghar seems to be of recent origin and probably dates from the erection of the great temple of Lord Baidyanath. Although the name of the builder of the temple is not traceable, certain parts of the front portion of the temple are said to have been built by Puran Mal, an ancestor of the Maharaja of Giddhour, in 1596. Deoghar is a place of worship for Lord Shiva, in the month of Shravan many devotee takes ganga jal from Sultanganj to Deoghar for worship and they get the desire wish of their life.[1]

Deoghar, also known as Baidyanath Dham, is an important Hindu pilgrimage site. It is one of the twelve and also one of the 51, and is famous for the mela of Shrawan, 4th month according to the Hindu calendar system. It is, along with Shrisailam, one of the few places in India where the Jyotirlinga and the Shaktipeeth are together, lying sided beside each other. Each year between July and August (on the eve of the month of Shrawan) in Deoghar Yatra, about 7 to 8 million devotees come from various part of India bringing holy water from various areas of Ganges at Sultanganj, which is almost 108 km (67 mi) from Deoghar, in order to offer it to Lord Shiva. During that month, a line of people in saffron-dyed clothes stretches over the full 108 km (67 mi). It is the longest Mela of the Asia.[2]

The temple of Baidyanath or Lord Shiva is the most important of all the temples in the courtyard. The temple faces the east and is a plain stone structure with a pyramidal tower, 72 feet tall. The top contains three ascending shaped gold vessels that are compactly set, and were donated by the Maharaja of Giddhaur. Besides these pitcher shaped vessels, there is a Punchsula (five knives in a trident shape), which is rare. In the inner top, there is an eight-petaled lotus jewel called Chandrakanta Mani.

Part of the interior of a Hindu Temple, at Deo, in Bahar, from Rees's Cyclopedia, 1802

Deoghar is located at 24.48°N 86.7°E / 24.48; 86.7.[3] It has an average elevation of 255 metres (833 feet). It is a part of Indian peninsular plateau which forms a part of oldest landmass on earth Gondwana land.[4] Deoghar is situated on the bank of Ajay river (which originates from Batpar village of Jamui district in Bihar) and its tributary Dadhawa river( which originates from Purnia Lake near Karangarh village 24.595501°N 86.474369°E / 24.595501; 86.474369 in Jamui district of Bihar). City is surrounded with various small relict hills such as Dighriya pahaad, Nandan pahaad, Trikuti Pahaad, Tapovan Pahaad. Dighriya pahaad forms the western boundary of the city and there is a national park being constructed on this hills. Nandan pahaad is a children amusement place and serves as one the principal recreational place in the city.[5] Tapovan Pahaad has its cultural relevance found in Hindu scriptures . It is one of the amusement place in the city and serves as a habitat for monkeys.[6]

Deoghar city is usually referred to as the cultural capital of Jharkhand[7] The native languages of Deoghar are Angika,Hindi and Santhali.

• All India Institute of Medical Sciences - Deoghar
• Deoghar College - affiliated under S.K.M University
• A.S.College
• Birla Institute of Technology - Deoghar (Ranchi Offcampus)
• Baidyanath Kamal Kumari Sanskrit College
• Dev Sangha Institute of Professional Studies and Educational Research (DIPSER)[8]
• Deoghar Industrial Training Centre

As of 2011 India census,[9] Deoghar has a population of 203,116 and 17.62% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Industry in Deoghar is mainly based on agriculture, hospitality and tourism and in service sector. Hotels like Amrapali Clarks Inn (a collab of Amrapali Groups & Clarks Inn Group of Hotels), Hotel Imperial Heights, etc. are reknowed groups of hospitality industry here.

Various small & middle scale industries are present in Deoghar - HIL.Ltd,[10] MR Real Food, Shree Guru Agrotech, PDRD Rice Mill, Tulsi Agro Foods,etc.

Some large industrial projects are also present here -

• Jalsar Solar Park was established by Jharkhand Renewable Energy Development Agency (JREDA).
• Plastic Park and Plastic Recycling unit
• Central Institute of Plastics Engineering & Technology (CIPET)[11]
• IOCL - Terminal

Deoghar Airport is being expanded as an international airport and there are plans of it being renamed as 'Atal Bihari Vajpayee Intermational Airport'.[12] Services are also going to start soon and various new facilities are also being upgraded in the airport premises.

As of April 10th, 2020 there were no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Deoghar. On 22 March 2020, India observed a 14-hour voluntary public curfew at the instance of the prime minister Narendra Modi which was sincerely followed by the residents of Deoghar. On this day, at 5pm , people came out of their houses and to their balconies to pay tribute to frontline health and essential services workers by clapping and blowing the Shankha. The District Administration has effectively implemented the lockdown as announced by the Prime Minister from the 24th of March 2020 by ensuring that people stay indoors and by providing essential commodities for the needy. According to a report by The Quint, an online portal, Deoghar roads bore a deserted look as the lockdown commenced and only a handful of shops selling essential goods and services were found open. [13] On April 5th, the District Collector Nancy Sahay announced that production triple layer masks had commenced in the district and affordable masks would be made available to common man at Rs. 12 per mask, and free to the needy.The administration also established a Food Grain bank at the Indoor Stadium facility for the poor and daily wage earners. Local administration has also launched a website http://www.deogharfightscorona.in/ which contains information on preventive measures as well as relief measures by the administration including helpline numbers. This web portal also has information on the Deoghar District relief fund to which donors can contribute to help the relief measures.

• List of cities in Jharkhand

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Deoghar.

• Deoghar travel guide from Wikivoyage