On the last Monday (Somwari) of the Shravan month, special prayers were offered to Lord Shiv and Goddess Parvati at the historic Thaneshwar Mahadev Temple located within the Nawanagar police station premises in Buxar district. This age-old tradition was carried out with the joint cooperation of police personnel and local villagers. This year, Nawanagar Station House Officer (SHO) Praful Kumar, along with his wife Nandini Kumari, participated as the chief hosts of the puja.

Pundit Rangwasi Pandey conducted the rituals according to Vedic traditions and chants. Besides Lord Shiv, Goddess Kali Bhagwati and Lord Hanuman, also enshrined in the temple, were worshipped. Police personnel also performed Rudrabhishek for Lord Shiv. Notably, the tradition of police officers acting as chief hosts for the last Somwari puja at Thaneshwar Mahadev Temple dates back to 1920-21, a practice that predates India's independence. Both police and villagers continue to uphold this tradition with immense devotion.

Local residents believe this event also symbolizes communal harmony, as SHOs from various communities have participated, promoting brotherhood. Following the puja, 'mahaprasad' (sacred food) was distributed among devotees. In the evening, a grand 'bhandara' (community feast) was organized in the temple premises, attended by a large number of villagers from Nawanagar, Bhatauli, Roopsagar, Budhaila, Jeetwadih, Atimi, and other surrounding villages, who partook in the prasad. Before the puja, the temple was cleaned and painted with the help of villagers and police. The entire event saw a large crowd of devotees and a devotional atmosphere throughout the temple premises.