Ban on Outside Gulal at Ujjain’s Mahakal Temple Following Fire Accident

 

Bhopal: Devotees will not be allowed to bring gulal or colours from outside into Madhya Pradesh’s famous Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain during Rangpanchami celebrations on March 30.

This decision was taken by the administration following the fire accident in the garbhagriha of the temple on March 25. At least 14 priests were injured in a fire that broke out in the sanctum sanctorum of the Mahakaleswar temple in Ujjain during the ‘bhasma aarti’ ritual.

Apart from Holi, the festival of colours is also celebrated in the Mahakaleshwar temple on Rangpanchami.

The administration has decided that on Rangapanchami, only herbal colour made from ‘tesu’ (palash) flowers will be used by Shri Mahakaleshwar Temple Management Committee.

On Rangpanchami, no devotee will be allowed to bring colours into the temple premises from outside.

The number of devotees on Rangpanchami will also be controlled during the ‘bhasma aarti’ held in the morning, he said.

MP minister Kailash Vijayvargiya had expressed apprehension that the fire at Mahakal temple might have been caused by chemicals in ‘gulal’. The gulal thrown during ‘bhasma aarti’ may have contained some chemical that caused the fire.

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has ordered an investigation into the incident. It will be investigated whether the fire broke out due to the presence of mica or any other chemical in the gulal.