Basukinath is located in the Dumka district of Jharkhand. It lies on the Deoghar-Dumka state highway, about 25 km northwest of Dumka. Basukinath is a place of pilgrimage for Hindus. The Basukinath Temple is a main attraction, situated on the Jasidih Dumka New Railway line. Ranchi Airport is the nearest airport; it is situated at Jarmundi Block on Dumka Deoghar State Highway at a distance of 24 km from the District Headquarters Dumka. During the year, many people from different parts of India come to Basukinath to worship Lord Shiva. During the month of Shraavana, people of several countries also come here to worship Lord Shiva. It is believed that when the gates to this temple are open, Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati meet here hence, the devotees are asked to step away from the gates at this time. Before the independence of India, Basukinath was under Handwa state, whose last queen was Rani Sonabati; it is inscribed on a plate at the top of the gate between the temple and the sacred pond. There is a well inside the sacred pond and shiv ling, which can be seen during the cleaning of the pond, which occurs every few years.
Demographics
Indian census, Basukinath had a population of 14,119, males constituting 52% of the population and females 48%. Basukinath has an average literacy rate of 54%, lower than the national average of 59.5%; with 62% of the males and 38% of females literate. 17% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Religion
Basukinath serves as a place of pilgrimage for Hindus. The Basukinath Temple is a popular attraction. , India
Shravan Mela
Basukinath is famous for the mela of Shraavana, between July and August. Many devotees visit the place from various parts of India and offer holy water of Ganges to the deity collected from Sultangunj, Bhagalpur district in Bihar, which is almost 135 km from Basukinath. An unbroken line of people in saffron-dyed clothes stretching over the path between Bhagalpur and Basukinath can be seen during the fair. Whether Some pilgrims are called "Bol Bam" they put the holy water on the shivling after 4–5 days journey. They can stop at many places during the journey. While some pilgrims are called Dak Bam, and do not stop even once in their journey from Bhagalpur to Basukinath. The pilgrims to Basukinath later visit the Baidyanath Jyotirlinga in Deogarh.
Ram Janki Vivah Utsav
Vivah Panchami is a Hindu festival celebrating the marriage of Ram and Sita. It is observed on the fifth day of the Shukla paksha or the waxing phase of moon in the Margashirsha month as per Hindu calendar. The day is observed as the Vivah Utsav of Sita and Rama in temples and sacred places associated with Sri Rama. Late Pandit Nainalal Jha, Pradhan Tirth Purohit Baba Basukinath, started the festival of "Ram Janki Vivah Utsav" in Basukinath. He used to celebrate this festival with a lot of enthusiasm. A baraat which included elephants and horses participated in the procession. He used to call it "Palki Utsav". Prenently it is taken forward by his son Pandit Tara Kant Jha.
