Cremation ash no longer used at Mahakal shrine

Ujjain, MP, July 26 (UNI) Ash from freshly-cremated bodies was used since ancient times for the three-hour Bhasmarti ritual conducted in the wee hours daily in the sanctum sanctorum of this ancient temple town's Mahakaleshwar temple -- one of the country's dozen jyotirlingas--but has now been substituted by ash created by burning dung cakes.

For the past decade, the number of devotees arriving for this ritual witnessed an increase. During the Hindu month of 'Shravan', the number spurts and the district administration has decided to post officials there this year.

''More than 60 people are given their turns to enter the sanctum sanctorum for the Bhasmarti everyday. Twenty others, who book on the Internet, are also allowed,'' the temple's Administrator Shubhkaran Sharma told UNI