Special rakhi for Lord Shiva in MP temple

Ujjain, Aug 18 (IANS) The festival of Raksha Bandhan is being celebrated on Thursday across Madhya Pradesh starting with a special ceremony in this city ar the famous Mahakaleshwar temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.

As early as 3 a.m., a specially decked out Lord Shiva was offered a Bhasmarti (special puja) and tied a silver rakhi (sacred thread) embedded with gems to mark the start of the festival.

Also offered to Mahakaleshwar, who defines the cultural life of the city, were 1.25 lakh laddus (sweets of gram and wheat flour shaped into balls) to be later distributed to the devotees as 'prasad'.

Thousands of people visit the Mahakaleshwar temple every day.