Baba Vishwanath will be adorned as a groom on Mahashivratri, with a special turban made of Rudraksha and dry fruits.

The festival of Mahashivratri will be celebrated with grand, divine, and traditional fervor this year in Kashi, the city of Lord Mahadev.
On Mahashivratri, Kashi’s Lord Baba Vishwanath will appear before devotees as a groom. On this occasion, Baba’s special adornment will include a traditional turban made of Rudraksha, fruits, dry fruits, and flowers, symbolizing the folk tradition and faith of Shiva’s marriage.

On Mahashivratri, Baba’s adornment is done according to the centuries-old traditions of Kashi. The turban holds special significance in this groom’s adornment. The turban, made of Rudraksha, symbolizes Baba’s tradition of renunciation and the Shiva principle, while the fruits, dry fruits, and flowers used in the turban represent folk customs and auspiciousness.

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This Sehra will be offered to Baba from the Mahant’s residence at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Tedhinim to the Shiva Baraat and the four-hour Aartis held throughout the night at Shri Kashi Vishwanath Dham.

This Sehra will remain in place during all the Aartis held in the temple, including the movable idol of Baba.

Pandit Vachaspati Tiwari explained that the Sehra is being prepared entirely from natural and religious materials. Rudraksha, along with makhana (sunflower seeds), cloves, cardamom, Shivalingi, grapes, and various fragrant flowers, will be used. All these items have religious and spiritual significance. Rudraksha is a favorite of Shiva, the Shivalingi is considered a symbol of progeny and prosperity, while fruits and nuts represent good wishes and devotion.

The Shiva Baraat holds special significance in Kashi on Mahashivratri. According to folk tradition, Lord Shiva sets out as a groom to marry Mother Gauri. In keeping with this tradition, Baba Vishwanath is adorned in the form of a groom. The Sehra (headgear) is a key part of this adornment, bestowing a supernatural beauty on Baba’s head.

Pandit Vachaspati Tiwari stated that on the occasion of Mahashivratri, the Saptarishi Aarti will be held at the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple at all four times. This Aarti is a unique tradition of Kashi, in which the Aarti is performed with special rituals symbolizing the seven sages. The Saptarishi Aarti will be conducted under the leadership of Pt. Shashi Bhushan Tripathi ‘Guddu Maharaj’, a senior member of the Mahant family and head of the Saptarishi Aarti.

The night of Mahashivratri is considered extremely special for Baba. Aarti, Abhishek, and special worship continue throughout the night in the temple. Devotees queue up throughout the night to have darshan and Jalabhishek of Baba. Devotees are particularly excited to see Baba in his groom form.

On the holy night of Mahashivratri, when Baba Vishwanath will appear before the devotees in the form of a groom with a turban decorated with Rudraksha and dry fruits, a wonderful confluence of devotion, tradition and spiritual energy will be seen in Kashi.