Ujjain : The grand palanquin procession of Lord Mahakaleshwar was taken out on the concluding Monday of the auspicious month of Shravan with religious fervour. Lord Mahakal gave darshan to the ecstatic devotees in the replica of Chandrmauleshwar presiding in the silver palanquin.
Pujan of lord Chandrmauleshwar presiding in the silver palanquin was performed at the Sabha Mandapam by BJP National General Secretary Kailash Vijayvergiya, Collector Kavindra Kiyawat and SP MS Verma. Guard of honour was paid to the deity outside the temple. Lord Manmahesh was presiding on the royal elephant, Lord Garud in Shiv-Tandav incarnation on bullock cart and Lord Uma-Mahesh on the Nandi accompanied the procession. Police band accompanying with the procession was playing the tune dedicated to the Shiva’s devotion. Thousands of pilgrims thronged at the procession and bhajan mandalis were seen drowned in the devotional fervor. Pilgrims accompanying in the procession were singing bhajans and have been playing tunes on musical instruments. Police personnel were seen struggling to handle the enthusiastic crowd all over the route of the procession.
The palanquin procession moved towards Mahakal Road, Gudri Chouraha, Bakshi Bazaar, Kaharwadi and stayed at Ramghat for worship of holy Kshipra. Again the procession moved towards Ramanjukot, Modh ki Dharamshala, Kartik Chowk, Khati ka Mandir, Satyanarayan Mandir, Dhaba Road, Tanki Chouraha, Chhatri Chowk, Gopal Mandir, Patni Bazaar, Gudri Bazaar and concluded at the temple at 7.30 pm. Horse riders escorted the procession while armed forces and workers of voluntary organizations accompanied the procession. Various Bhajan Mandalis hailed the deity by raising slogans like ‘Om Namah Shivay’. Royal procession will be taken out on September 7.
Bhasamarti becomes battleground every Monday
The one of a kind Bhasmarti ritual offered to the deity of the Shravan turns into a battle ground due to the ruckus created by the VIP’s who visit the temple. Now the conditions have reached to a terminal where the VIP’s are deciding the time of Bhasmarti. On Monday the Bhasmarti started late around 1.5 hours to facilitate the VIPS and the priests were helpless. The VIP’s who reach the temple are escorted inside the Nandi Hall and sometimes even the garbha griha. At most of the times the common queue of the pilgrims is stopped or the supporters of the same VIP capture prime spots inside the Nandi Hall and the common devotee curtails behind. On Monday MLA from Sonkatch Rajendra Verma, showcased the same performance by entering the temple with more than 200 supporters inside the Nandi Hall, breaking all obstructions and barricading. He even offered Jal to lord Mahakal trespassing all the officers and priests inside. Even the temple administrator RP Tiwari was unable to stop him from entering. Other VIP’s who paid a visit to the temple were Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya, State minister Narottam Mishra and wife of CM Sadhna Singh Chouhan. At every nook and corner the whole temple administration was seen facilitating the VIP’s and forgot the common public. Breaking the laws temple authorities even rerouted the Bhasmarti queue at the instant time, after the common queue for the Bhasmarti was opened. The regular entry is made from the Bhasmarti gate or special 151 gates but on Monday the entry was suddenly changed and was made from Pravachan hall entry gate. This led to the scenario where the common devotees were deprived of Bhasmarti, who were unaware of the decision. Those who managed to get the information rushed and secured their place.
Officials giving two hoots to the management
Despite having 5 administrative officers and supporting staff of hundreds the discrepancies and mismanagement seem to have stuck the temple. Even Collector Kavindra Kiyawat, ex-officio chairman of SMTMC, who had also reached the temple in morning, was unable to align the functionalities. Being the last Shravan Somvar thousands had flocked the temple to have a glimpse of the deity and the officials were busy managing the VIPs. Women and children inside the barricades were parching, while the VIP’s were performing Pujan in the garbha griha. The collector even locked down all the entries to relieve the pressure, but the effort was in vain and was seen irritated over the arrangements and cast out his agitation on pressmen. Temple priests who were most hurt by breaking of temple rituals said, The official just supply to the VIP’s as it is advantageous to their future and none of them have a feeling of affection towards the duty and feeling of thousands who come from across the country and world. Temple Administrator and SAS officer RP Tiwari when contacted said, “What can I do, everything is hands of lord Mahakal”.
