The sacred Bhasma aarti was performed at Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain on Tuesday. Baba Mahakal was smeared with Bhasma, and worshipped with Aarti.
The Bhasma Aarti ceremony involves ashes, which carries great religious significance among Lord Shiva devotees across the world.
The ceremony carries religious significance and devotees from all over the country and the world reach Ujjain to witness it. Devotees also get online darshan of Bhasma Aarti.
The unwavering faith of Lord Shiva devotees towards Bhasma Aarti can be gauged from the fact that the hall in front of the sanctum sanctorum in the temple gets crowded well before the start of this ritual.
According to beliefs, Lord Shiva is also considered as 'Shamshan Ke Sadhak' (seeker of cremation ground) and ashes have been called his “Shringar” (adornment). The ashes with which Mahakaleshwar Aarti is performed is prepared by burning cow dung cakes.
Lord Mahakaleshwar is worshipped and adorned amidst the chanting of Vedic mantras during ‘Bhasma Aarti’.
Last month, on the auspicious occasion of Mahashivratri, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav offered prayers at the Mahakaleshwar Temple.
Sharing pictures on social media, he wrote, “Shiva is Shakti, Shiva is Devotion! Shiva is Time, Shiva is Mahakal...On the auspicious occasion of Mahashivratri, I visited the Mahakaleshwar Temple with my spouse to seek the blessings of Baba Mahakal and prayed for the prosperity and well-being of the people of the state. Har Har Mahadev!”