Mahashivratri, the festival dedicated to Lord Shiva, is celebrated with great fervor in the city of Ujjain, home to the renowned Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga. The festival is a spectacle of grandeur and devotion, attracting devotees from far and wide. This year, the celebration promises an uninterrupted 44-hour-long darshan of Baba Mahakal, creating an atmosphere of spiritual bliss for the worshippers.
Festival Schedule
The Mahashivratri festivities in Ujjain extend for nine days, known as Shivanavratri. The celebration peaks on March 8th, where the temple gates will open at 2:30 AM, continuing with non-stop darshan of Baba Mahakal for the next 44 hours. The event concludes on March 9th with the temple closing at 11 PM after the Shayan Aarti.
Temple Rituals and Schedule
- The temple gates will open on Thursday night at 2:30 AM, followed by the Bhasma Aarti of Baba Mahakal.
- At 7:30 AM, the Bal Bhog (morning offering) will take place.
- The Bhog Aarti will be performed at 10:30 AM.
- At noon, the temple will witness the official state puja.
- A special puja by Holkar State will be held at 4:00 PM.
- After the evening Aarti at 7:30 PM, a sweet milk offering will be presented to Lord Shiva.
- Subsequently, the worship and archana of Koteshwar Mahadev will mark the initiation of the Shivaratri puja.
Traffic Plan and Parking Arrangements
Considering the massive influx of devotees expected on March 8th for Mahashivratri, the administration has devised a comprehensive traffic and parking plan to ensure smooth proceedings.
- From 4 PM onwards on March 8th, vehicular entry will be restricted on all 12 routes leading to the city.
- Separate parking arrangements have been made for vehicles approaching from different directions.
- Entry restrictions will be imposed from Harifatak to Mahakal Ghati Chauraha, Ratadiya Road to Lalpul, among other routes.
- Certain routes, including Shankaracharya Chauraha to Nrisingh Ghat and Daulatganj to Lohia Pul, will prohibit vehicle entry.
- Restrictions will be in place from Nrisingh Ghat to Bhookhi Mata, Danigate to Gangaur Darwaja, Kedi Gate to Kamari Marg, and Bhargav Tiraha to Tanki Chauraha.
Parking Locations
- Devotees arriving from Indore, Dewas, and Maksi Road can park at Karkaraj Parking, accessible from Harifatak Chauraha to Jantar Mantar and Lalpul.
- Those coming from Nagda can park at the Rathore Kshatriya Teli Samaj Maidan, approaching from Sodumata Bavdi to Ratadiya Road.
- Visitors from Badnagar can use Kartik Mela Maidan for parking, and those from Maksi can park behind the Imperial Hotel, Pandya Khedi.
- Vehicles from Aagar can park at Kartik Mela Ground, reached through Makodiya Chauraha to Khak Chauraha, Juna Somwariya.
Mahashivratri in Ujjain is not merely a festival; it is an extraordinary spiritual experience. With the 44-hour darshan of Baba Mahakal and meticulous traffic and parking arrangements, the city is geared up to host a memorable celebration, leaving a lasting impression on devotees from around the country.