The convergence of the third Monday of the holy Sawan month and the auspicious festival of Nagpanchami created a remarkable spectacle of devotion in Ujjain. Lord Mahakal stepped out of his sanctum in the revered Chandramouleshwar avatar to tour the city and bless his devotees. Since early morning, massive crowds of worshippers gathered around the temple premises and across the city streets to catch a glimpse of the deity.
Rituals began in the afternoon inside the assembly hall of the Mahakaleshwar temple, where Bhagwan Chandramouleshwar was worshipped with full Vedic rites. Following these ceremonies, the grand procession set off from the temple complex amidst immense enthusiasm. Police personnel presented a guard of honour to the palanquin at the main entrance, while the beating of drums, blowing of conch shells, and roaring chants filled the air, soaking the ancient city in profound devotion.
Devotees received the rare fortune of witnessing multiple divine forms of the deity during the procession. Lord Mahakal was seated in a silver palanquin as Chandramouleshwar, while the traditional Manmahesh form was seated on an elephant and the Shiva Tandav form rode on a Garuda chariot. Worshippers lined the entire route, shouting devotional slogans and seeking blessings as the majestic entourage passed by.
The route originated from the Sri Mahakaleshwar temple and moved through Mahakal crossroads, Gudri crossroads, Bakshi Bazaar, and Kaharwadi to reach Ramghat. At the banks of the sacred Kshipra river, priests performed a ritualistic abhisheka, special worship, and a grand aarti of Lord Mahakal. After blessing the gathered throngs, the procession resumed its journey through other prominent lanes of the city.
The return journey traversed through Ramghat, Ramanujkot, Modh Dharmashala, Kartik Chowk, Dhaba Road, Gopal Mandir, Patni Bazaar, and Gudri crossroads before heading back to the Mahakal temple. According to the scheduled itinerary, the procession was expected to return to the temple by evening.
The simultaneous observance of Nagpanchami added immense spiritual significance to the day. The portals of the Nagchandreshwar temple, situated atop the Mahakaleshwar shrine, remain accessible to devotees for only 24 hours once a year, opening from the midnight of August 16 to the midnight of August 17. Thousands of pilgrims traveled from all corners of the country to Ujjain to avail of these rare annual darshans. With Sawan Somwar, Nagpanchami, and the royal procession falling on the same day, Ujjain witnessed an unprecedented confluence of faith, prompting the administration and temple committee to put extensive crowd management and safety measures in place.
