Mahakaleshwar Temple celebrates Raksha Bandhan with traditional rituals

At the Shree Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain, traditional rituals were observed to mark the festival of Raksha Bandhan. Following long-standing customs, the priest families performed the ceremony by tying a special Rakhi to Lord Mahakal during the early morning Bhasma Aarti.

The Rakhi, which was approximately 2 feet long, was handcrafted by the women of the priest families using silk cloth, threads, and ornaments after a period of fasting and prayer. In addition to the Rakhi ceremony, a massive offering known as Mahabhog, consisting of 125,000 laddoos made from gram flour and pure ghee, was presented to the deity.

While a lunar eclipse occurred on the day of the festival, it was not visible in India, meaning religious observances and auspicious timings remained unaffected by local astrological restrictions.