Ujjain : The first Shravan Sawari (procession) of Lord Mahakal was taken out with religious fervour and traditional gaiety here on Monday. Like every year, the procession was taken out through the traditional route which started from Mahakaleshwar Temple at 4 pm.
The Sawari traversed through Paandariba, Ramanuj Kot, Kartik Chowk, Khati Mandir, Chhatri Chowk, Gopal Mandir and Gudri Bazaar and returned to the temple at 7.20 pm. Pt Ghanshyam with a team of pujaris completed the initial ritual and offered pujan to the replica of Lord Mahakal.
For the first Sawari, Lord Mahakal was given the Manmahesh look, a replica of the original form of the deity to the devotees. Collector BM Sharma and SP Anurag Kumar also worshipped the replica and lent a hand in lifting the palanquin.
The procession started after the jawans of armed forces paid customary salute to the palanquin. The procession passed through Gudri Chauraha, Kaharwadi and reached at the Ramghat, where the replica was consecrated with the holy waters of Kshipra. Thousands of people remained in queue along the route, showering flower petals on the palanquin, to have a glimpse of the deity.
Constable slaps BJP, Cong leaders?
Heavy rush of devotees at the temple and on the procession route disturbed the police. Verbal duels between the police and members of bhajan mandlis were witnessed at many places. In their bid to take the palanquin back to the temple at scheduled time of 7 pm, the persons authorised were seen jostling in the crowd. At Ramanujkot, the members of Nagar Suraksha Samiti allegedly misbehaved with the devotees. According to unconfirmed reports, a constable slapped BJP leader Rajpal Singh Sisodia and Congress leader Arun Verma when they were trying to enter the barricaded portion. On being contacted, Sisodia declined such incident, though maintained that the authorities concerned failed to ensure better arrangements.
