Stage set for grand Mahashivratri celebrations : Devotees exchange SMS, Messages

Ujjain: The holy city of Ujjain is known as the abode of Mahakaleshwar and Shiv Bhakti. After a long wait of a year the city is again set to celebrate the most awaited Mahashivratri here on Wednesday which will also mark the conclusion of the 9 day long Shivnavratri festival.

Devotees from various nooks and corners of the country have started pouring in to have a darshan of Lord Mahakal during this auspicious day. City administration made all the necessary preparations for the arrangements at Mahakaleshwar Temple.

Police department also deployed hundreds of police personals and made necessary preparations of other preventive measures for security purposes.A month long preparations were going on in the temple to make this day a grand success. The whole temple was whitewashed to give it a new and fresh look.

During the Shivnavaratri the whole temple was decorated with colourful lights that added to the beauty of the temple along with the melodious sound of the music of hymns. Lord Mahakal was decorated in various manners during these days. On Mahashivratri special worship will be done.

None of the devotees will be allowed to enter into the Garbh griha on this day. Lord Mahakal will be decorated with fruits and will be offered various kind fruits. The schedule of bhasmarti is changed only for Mahashivratri which will take place at 12 pm.

The city administration has made tight arrangements for the security and managements. Extra police forces were brought from other police stations of district were deployed near Mahakaleshwar temple after providing a brief training at Madhav Nagar police station.

Barricades were installed in order to control the mob and rush during darshan. The women police force is also deployed to combat any unfavourable situations. In the campus the devotees will not be allowed to remain for a long time so that there may not be any commotion outside the temple. In order to control the mob only 25- 25 devotees will be allowed to have darshan.

The Mahashivratri will be celebrated in the Chakreshwar Mahadev temple situated at village Chakrawada. On this occasion the pran- pratishtha programme of the idols of Shri Gajanan and Shri Kartikeya will be held. On this occasion a vehicle rally will be taken out to observe the panchkroshi yatra in which hundreds of devotees will participate. Like wise two day religious programme followed by distribution of fariyali khichdi will be done in the Sai baba temple situated near Choubis Khamba Mata Temple under the aegis of Saidham Samiti Ujjain during the Mahashivratri festival.