As the festival of Mahashivratri approaches, the religious and spiritual city of Kashi is beginning to be coloured by the hues of Mahadev. The formal start of the Shiva Vivah rituals commenced on Friday with the offering of auspicious turmeric to Baba Vishwanath.
The traditional turmeric procession departed from Shri Mahant Lingiya Maharaj’s residence, ‘Shri Yantra Peetham’ (Shri Dharma Niwas), located at Bansfatak, to the Mahant’s residence in Tedhinim, where the turmeric will be ritually offered to Baba’s Panchbadan movable idol.
Mahant Avshesh Pandey of the Sheetla Temple explained that, according to the ancient folk tradition of Kashi, auspicious turmeric is offered to Baba before the Shiva Vivah. This year, the Mahant family of the Siddhpeeth Badi Sheetla Mata Temple has specially ordered turmeric from Nashik.
On Thursday, turmeric and other offerings reached the Sriyantra Peetham at Bansfatak, from where they will be taken to the Mahant’s residence at Tedhinim on Friday.
Sarangnath Samuhik Rudrabhishek Peeth President Rahul Sinha and Minister Tippu Pandey said that people from Baba’s in-laws’ side will bring turmeric from the Sarangnath temple, the in-laws’ place, to Lingiya Maharaj’s residence. From there, under the guidance of Shri Mahant Lingiya Maharaj, they will go to the Tedhinim Mahant’s residence along with the people of Kashi. Mahant Manish Upadhyay of the Sarangnath temple will also be present during this time.
Mahant Vachaspati Tiwari said that 11 Vedic Brahmins will perform a special puja of the Panchbadan idol of Baba Vishwanath. There will be a grand traditional decoration, and Baba’s supernatural image will be seen as the groom.