Holi celebrated today at Mahakal Temple in Ujjain:Herbal colours used in Bhasma Aarti; Bhog-Prasad rules changed due to lunar eclipse

The festival of Holi is being celebrated with great pomp on Tuesday at Shri Mahakaleshwar Temple. Due to the lunar eclipse, there is a state of confusion in many places regarding the celebration of the Dhulendi festival. However, during the Bhasmarti at 4 AM, priests and pundits played Holi with herbal gulal along with Baba Mahakal. Gulal was also offered to Lord Shiva’s family, Mother Parvati, Lord Ganesha, and Kartikeya. After anointing Lord Mahakal with Hari Om water, worship was performed with Panchamrit made of milk, curd, ghee, sugar, honey, and fruit juice. Nandi Ji’s bath, meditation, and worship took place. Lord Mahakal wore a silver crown of Sheshnag, a silver skull garland, a rudraksha garland, and a garland made of fragrant flowers. Bhang, fruits, and sweets were offered. See pictures of Holi from Mahakal Temple As per tradition, on the occasion of Dhulendi, during Bhasma Aarti, Gulal was first offered to Baba Mahakal by the priests. During this, Gulal was also offered to Nandi Ji. Then Gulal was showered on the devotees as well. Due to a lunar eclipse on the festival of Dhulendi, the doors of Mahakal temple will not be closed from Bhasmarti until the eclipse ends in the evening. During this period, devotees will be able to have darshan of Lord Mahakal. However, the regular offering (bhog) will not be made to the Lord in the morning. After the eclipse ends, the temple will be purified. Only after this will the offering (bhog) be made to the Lord. Only sugar offering due to eclipse According to the ancient tradition of Shri Mahakaleshwar Temple, there will be changes in the worship method due to the lunar eclipse. Government priest Pt. Ghanshyam Sharma informed that the ‘vedh kaal’ (inauspicious period) for this 14-minute eclipse, which will last from 6:32 PM to 6:46 PM, will begin from sunrise itself. Due to the ‘vedh kaal’, only sugar will be offered to the Lord during the morning Dadyodak and Bhog Aarti. This is how Mahakal will be worshipped Bathing with cold water from tomorrow In the Mahakal temple, the daily routine of the deity changes twice a year. From Kartik Krishna Pratipada, the time of Aarti is determined according to winter, while from Chaitra Krishna Pratipada, the time is determined according to summer. This year, Chaitra Krishna Pratipada starts from March 4, which will also bring changes in Lord Mahakal’s daily routine. This day is considered the beginning of summer. Lord Mahakal will be bathed with cold water. This practice will continue until Sharad Purnima. During this period, the timings of three out of the five daily aartis will be changed.