Raksha Bandhan 2024:The month of Sawan is very dear to Lord Bholenath. In this holy month, special worship of Lord Bholenath is done in famous temples and Shiva temples across the country. In the Mahakal temple of Ujjain also, with the beginning of Sawan, a gathering of devotees starts and every day lakhs of devotees come to see Baba Mahakal. In this month, the festival of Rakshabandhan, symbolizing the unbreakable love between brother and sister, is also celebrated. Rakshabandhan is celebrated every year on the full moon date of Shukla Paksha of Sawan month. According to the calendar, this year Rakshabandhan is on 19 August 2024. Rakshabandhan is also celebrated with great pomp in the Mahakaleshwar temple. This year the last Monday of Sawan of Rakshabandhan is falling. On this day, a grand event of Baba Mahakal’s ride will also be organised. Preparations have started in Mahakaleshwar temple for Rakshabandhan festival.
Rakhi will be tied to Baba Mahakal: This year, the day of Rakshabandhan is going to be very special in Ujjain city because on this day it will be the last Monday of Sawan and with Rakshabandhan, the month of Sawan will also end. Special preparations are being made to make this festival grand. On August 19, the women of the priest family will tie Rakhi to Mahakal Baba in Brahma Muhurta before Bhasma Aarti. The priests who perform the Bhasma Aarti of Baba in the month of Sawan, the women of the same family prepare special Rakhi for Mahakal and tie Rakhi on the Mahakal of Rakshabandhan.
Mahakaal Baba will suffer great suffering : On this day, the priest family who perform Bhasma Aarti of Mahakaal to Baba, offers Mahabhog of 1.25 lakh laddus to Mahakaal. The tradition of offering 1.25 lakh laddus to Mahakal on the day of Sawan Purnima has been going on for centuries. Out of the 16 priest families of the temple, the same family in which Bhasma Aarti is performed in the month of Sawan, follows this tradition.
Mahakaal will appear in divine form
On this day, Mahakal Baba will be adorned with gold and silver jewelery in Bhasma Aarti. First of all, Mahakaleshwar Baba will be anointed with Panchamrit and fruit juice. After the adornment of Mahakal, the women of the priest family will be the first to tie Rakhi to Baba and the Mahakal ride will start at 4 in the evening. This year, a procession was taken out in 7 divine forms of Baba Mahakal in Sawan-Bhadau.
